Health Risk Assessment of Incinerator Air Emissions Incorporating Background Ambient Air Data

Abstract Combustion of hazardous and municipal waste produces a wide variety of emissions which need to be considered when assessing potential human health risks. A major focus in recent years has been excess cancer risks. The main emissions which rodent studies indicate may be carcinogenic to humans include organic chemicals such as dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls, which are highly persistent in the environment. Certain metals known to be carcinogenic to humans, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium and nickel, are also emitted. Priorities for consideration among non-carcinogenic emissions include lead and mercury. Methods for health risk assessment of air emissions are presented in this paper, and illustrated with data from a risk assessment of emissions from a municipal waste incinerator. The most significant potential exposure pathways were fish, meat, and milk consumption, which are dependent on the siting of facilities in relation to fishable lakes and land used for animal grazing or food...