Evaluation of Incremental Population and Individual Carcinogenic Risks of PCDD/Fs from Steel and Iron Industry in Taiwan by a Site-specific Health Risk Assessment Method

Abstract

Sinter plants and electric arc furnaces are the most important emission sources of PCDD/Fs. In order to understand the contribution and distribution of PCDD/Fs risk from steel and iron industry, the incremental health risk assessment of PCDD/Fs has been accomplished for the all sinter plants and electric arc furnaces in Taiwan. The study combined the multimedia, multiple pathway exposure modeling and site-specific exposure scenario to evaluate dioxin risks contributed from the 22 major companies of steel and iron industry including 4 sinter plants and 21 electric arc furnaces. The incremental cancer risks to the resident living in the 25 km × 25 km impact range of the above emission sources ranged from 3.10E-10 to 5.73E-06 under the site-specific exposure scenario. Among these 22 emission sources, the stacks with higher exit flows and worse operational characteristics would contribute higher inhalation risks; moreover, the sources located at the major agricultural districts in central Taiwan contributed higher ingestion risks. In conclusion, four sinter plants accounted for more than 24% of total PCDD/Fs exit rates in steel and iron industry, and the incremental risks of these were lower than those of other electric arc furnaces investigated in this study. Furthermore, comparing background cancer mortality for incremental PCDD/Fs risks of steel and iron industry, the total PCDD/Fs population risks contributed from steel and iron industry are low but still cannot be ignored.

Distribution of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in a Fly Ash Treatment Plant

“…According to a report from the Steel Recycling Institute, about 30% of the world's steel requirement is produced via melting scrap metals in electric arc furnaces (EAFs) ( World Steel Association, 2010). In Taiwan, EAF processes account for around 47% of all steel production (Kao et al, 2011). However, the scrap materials used in EAFs are often contaminated with plastics, paints, oils and coatings that contain chlorine and bromine.…”

Reducing polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) emissions from a real-scale iron ore sinter plant by adjusting its sinter raw mix

“…Currently, the limit values of 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm 3 (for newly constructed plants) and 1 ng TEQ/Nm 3 (for currently operating plants) are regulated in Taiwan, Japan and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the control of PCDD/F emissions from the iron ore sinter plant to consequently reduce population carcinogenic risks resulting from PCDD/Fs (Kao et al, 2011). In order to comply with stricter and stricter emission standards, use of the end-of-pipe control devices for reducing PCDD/F emissions has become more and more challenging due to the needs for continuously upgrading and maintaining the installed air pollution control devices.…”

Traffic Air Pollution and Risk of Death from Breast Cancer in Taiwan: Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) as a Proxy Marker

“…Air pollution from motor vehicle exhaust has been one of the most studied environmental factors (Craig et al, 2008;Chen and Li, 2010;Chuang et al, 2010a;Shen et al, 2010;Tsai et al, 2011). Exhaust from traffic is a complex mixture of many chemical compounds, including benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzo [a]pyrene (B[a]P) (Chuang et al, 2010b;Wu et al, 2010;Huang et al, 2011a, b;Kao et al, 2011). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified the emission of diesel exhaust engine compounds as probably carcinogenic (Group 2A) and gas engine exhaust compounds as possibly (Group 2B) carcinogenic to humans (IARC, 1989).…”