DIOXIN EMISSION AND WASTE INCINERATION - INVESTIGATIONS TAKING AN OLD PLANT AS AN EXAMPLE

The additional pollution of soil by polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofuranes in the vicinity of a municipal waste incinerator (MWI) after ten years of operation could be measured conditionally on the low background concentration. The profile of homologous species however is nearly identical to those of the background and those of other areas of the city. It differs completely from the well known pattern of PCDD and PCDF in the emitted flue gas of the MWI. The authors explain the proceeding of their investigation and discuss the results. Furthermore they present results of the region which ist not influenced by the incinerator.