Refuse burning

Contaminant Power plant emission (gm/kg fuel) Refuse burning emission (gm. kg refuse) Uncontrolled automotive emiSHon (gm/kg fuel) ... 

The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment is of obvious concern and, apart from specific occupational environments, human exposure to these compounds derives from combustion products released into the atmosphere. Estimates of the total annual benzo[aJpyrene emissions in the United States range from 900 tons (19) to about 1300 tons (20). These totals are derived from heat and power generation (37-38%), open-refuse burning (42-46%), coke production (15-19%) and motor vehicle emissions (1-1.5%) (19,20). Since the vast majority of these emissions are from stationary sources, local levels of air pollution obviously vary. Benzo[aJpyrene levels of less than 1 pg/1,000 m correspond to clean air (20). At this level, it can be estimated that the average person would inhale about 0.02 pg of benzo[aJpyrene per day, and this could increase to 1.5 pg/day in polluted air (21). 

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are widespread environmental contaminants and one of the most potent classes of carcinogenic chemicals. They are byproducts of combustion, and significant levels are produced in automobile exhaust, refuse burning, smoke stack effluents, and tobacco smoke. It is strongly suspected that PAH may play an important role in human cancer. 

Plant Design Capacity Quantities of Refuse Burned Operating Shifts Per Dav... 

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are introduced into the environment by a number of combustion processes, including heat and power generation, coke production, open refuse burning and motor vehicle emissions (, 2). Individuals can be exposed to PAHs from these environmental sources or from their occupation, diet or smoking habits. 

Nowadays automobile exhaust is claimed to be one of the most important evironmental PAH sources and thus a particular relevant pollutant for the carcinogenic risk of man. The absolute annual benzo(a)pyrene masses emitted from vehicles in the FRG have been calculated to be about I.85 tons (1), but presently no serious estimation of the benzo(a)pyrene ratio from vehicle exhaust to the total benzo(a)pyrene concentration originating also from other sources is available. In the USA, however, preferentially other sources, such as domestic coal heating (about 33%) and refuse burning ( 5%) have been shown to contribute to the PAH-pollut-ion in the 60ies of this century, whereas vehicle ex-... 

Incineration and open fires -Municipal and industrial incinerators -Refuse burning -Forest fires -Structural fires -Agricultural burning... 

These compounds are extremely stable in the environment and are found throughout the world at very low levels. According to the EPA (EPA, 2001e), municipal incinerators are the largest single source of dioxin emissions (38.4 percent) and backyard refuse burning contributes 18.6 percent. The best of the hazardous waste incinerators, such as the U.S. Army s stockpile chemical disposal facilities, have extremely low emissions of dioxins. 

The combustion process proceeds in two stages in the primary section the soHd phase bums and volatile gases are driven off in the secondary section, these volatile gases are burned. The combustion of refuse wastes often requires an auxiUary burner to maintain sufficient temperature for complete combustion. Large amounts of excess air, as high as 300%, are frequendy used. 

Refuse piles H2S, particulates, and smoke from burning storage piles Digging out fire, pumping water onto fire area, blanketing with incombustible material... 

Chemical Volume Reduction Incineration has been the method commonly used to reduce the volume of wastes chemically. One of the most attractive features of the incineration process is that it can be used to reduce the original volume of combustible sohd wastes by 80 to 90 percent. The technology of incineration has advanced since 1960 with many mass burn facihties now have two or more combustors with capacities of 1000 tons per day of refuse per unit. However, regiila-tions of metal and dioxin emissions have resulted in higher costs and operating complexity. 

Types of Combustors The three main classes of facilities used to combust municipal refuse are mass burn, modular, and RDF-fired facilities. Mass-burn combustors are field erected and generally range in size from 50 to 1000 tons/day of refuse feed per unit (Fig. 25-64). Modular combustors burn waste with little more pre-... 

Even though society has moved toward centralized industries and utilities, we still have many personal sources of air pollution for which we alone can answer—(1) automobiles, (2) home furnaces, (3) home fireplaces and stoves, (4) backyard barbecue grills, and (5) open burning of refuse and leaves. Figure 6-4 illustrates the personal emissions of a typical U.S. family. 

Furnaces other than those burning solid fuel at a rate of greater than one ton per hour - the following classes, used for any purpose other than the incineration of refuse ... 

The expense of proper disposal leads to the shipment of large amounts of e-waste to China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and other developing countries. Shipment is often through middlemen, and under tariff classifications that make quantities difficult to assess. There, despite the intents of national regulations and hazardous waste laws, most e-waste is treated as general refuse, or crudely processed, perhaps by burning or acid baths, to recover only a few materials of value. Harm to the environment, workers, and area residents is inevitable, often from release of dioxins, furans, and heavy metals. 

Somlyo I refuse to work on any knockout that does not have a congenic control. We have been burned in the past, and I don t want to do it again. 

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