A Wire Reclamation Incinerator as a Source of Environmental Contamination with Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and Tetrachlorodibenzofurans

Abstract

The authors investigated an outbreaks of unusual illnesses in humans and horses residing within 1.3 km of a wire reclamation incinerator. The study included site visits; medical and veterinary examinations; analyses of furnace ash, fly ash, soil, and biologic samples for air residues. Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (TCDDs) and tetrachlorodibenzofurans (TCDFs) were discovered in furnace ash, fly ash, soil, horse fat, and horse liver samples.

PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in soil samples from uncontrolled burning of waste electrical material for metal reclamation

“…We found a variety of PCDF and PCDD isomers mainly the 2,3,7,8-substituted isomers. The more abundant among PCDF are the 2, 3,7,2,3,4,7,1,2,3,4,6,2,3,7,8,2,3,4,7,8,9 heptaCDF. Among the PCDDs are the 2,3,7,8-tetra, 1,2,3,7,8-penta, 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexa and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptaCDD.…”

“…PCDDs and PCDFs were also detected in the emissions from electrical wire scrap incinerator for the recovery of metals 3 ' 4 , and also in soils where waste electric wire had been burned directly on the ground for the reclamation of metals 5 .…”

A preliminary investigation of unintentional POP emissions from thermal wire reclamation at industrial scrap metal recycling parks in China

“…Currently, there is little information on PCDD/F emissions from commercial scrap wire recovery facilities in developed countries [12][13][14][15], and studies on environmental releases of PCDD/Fs from thermal wire reclamation developing countries are also scarce. Additionally, there is almost no information available on emissions to the air of dioxin like PCBs (dl-PCBs), PCNs, PeCBz and HxCBz from thermal wire reclamation.…”

Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxin and Dibenzofuran Contamination at Metal Recovery Facilities, Open Burn Sites, and a Railroad Car Incineration Facility

“…Other factors, however, may increase PCDDlPCDF emissions. These findings led to investigations of PCDDlPCDF emissions from metal recovery furnaces and sites of open burning where metal scrap-including copper wire, which is frequently covered with PVC-is burned or smelted to recover copper (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). These findings led to investigations of PCDDlPCDF emissions from metal recovery furnaces and sites of open burning where metal scrap-including copper wire, which is frequently covered with PVC-is burned or smelted to recover copper (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15).…”