The Science

Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

The Science of Incineration

Ronnel Lim
November 19, 2007

Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia

The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

Emissions from
incineration
Trace metals: As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mg, Ni, Pb

Acid gases: HCl, SO2, NOx

Dioxins and furans, including

2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Organic compounds: benzene, carbon tetrachloride,

chlorophenols, trichloroethylene, toluene, xylenes,
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, vinyl chloride, etc.

Carbon monoxide

Particulate matter

Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia

The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

DOH incinerators

Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia

The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

DOH incinerators

Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia

The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

Emission test results

Emission CAA limit Actual Times

emission exceeded
Dioxins and 0.1 87 870 X
furans
Lead 0.5 0.852 2x

HCl 10 122.9 12 X

Particulate 10 86.3 9X

Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia

The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

Epidemiological studies
STUDY CONCLUSIONS REGARDING REFERENCE
SUBJECTS ADVERSE HEALTH
EFFECTS

Residents living Significant increase in laryngeal P. Michelozzi et al.,

within 10 km of an cancer in men living with closer Occup. Environ. Med.,
incinerator, refinery, proximity to the incinerator and 55, 611-615 (1998)
and waste disposal other pollution sources
site
532 males working Significantly higher gastric cancer E. Rapiti et al., Am. J.
at two incinerators mortality Ind. Medicine, 31, 659-
from 1962-1992 661 (1997)
Residents living Significant increase in lung A. Biggeri et al.
around an cancer related specifically to the Environ. Health
incinerator and other incinerator Perspect., 104, 750-754
pollution sources (1996)
People living within Risks of all cancers and P. Elliott et al., Br. J.
7.5 km of 72 specifically of stomach, Cancer, 73, 702-710
incinerators colorectal, liver, and lung cancer (1996)
increased with closer proximity to
incinerators
Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia
The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

Epidemiological studies
STUDY CONCLUSIONS REFERENCE
SUBJECTS REGARDING ADVERSE
HEALTH EFFECTS

10 workers at an old Significantly higher blood levels A. Schecter et al.,

incinerator, 11 of dioxins and furans among Occup. Environ.
workers at a new workers at the old incinerator Medicine, 52, 385-387
incinerator (1995)
53 incinerator Significantly higher blood and urine J. Angerer et al., Int.
workers levels of hexachlorobenzene, 2,4/2,5- Arch. Occup. Environ.
dichlorophenols, 2,4,5- Health, 64, 266-273
trichlorophenols, and hydroxypyrene
(1992)
37 workers at four Significantly higher prevalence
X.F. Ma et al., J.
incinerator facilities of urinary mutagen/promutagenToxicol. Environ.
levels Health, 37, 483-494
(1992)
104 workers at Significantly higher prevalence J.M. Scarlett et al., J.
seven incinerator of urinary mutagen and Toxicol. Environ.
facilities promutagen levels Health, 31, 11-27
(1990)
Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia
The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

Diaz and Savage, report to

WHO

“The use of open burning for the treatment and of open dumps
for the final disposition of the wastes should be strictly prohibited
due to the serious potential negative impacts on
public health and on the environment.”

Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia

The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

Diaz and Savage, report to

WHO

“Incineration of any type should be phased out as soon

as practical, primarily due to the potential emissions of
unacceptably high concentrations of toxic compounds
such as dioxins, furans, and heavy metals and also due to
the release of greenhouse gases
(GHGs).”

Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia

The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

Incinerators in disguise

Because it is hard to sell incinerators, some enterprising

businesses call their incinerators by other names:
thermal decomposer, pyrolysis, thermal oxidizer, etc.

Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia

The Science
Best Practices:
of Incineration
Systems & Technologies 22 October 2008

Ronnel Lim
ronnel@gmail.com
0918-9850130
Health Care Without Harm

www.noharm.org
www.no-burn.org

Health Care Without Harm – Southeast Asia