Inventory of Sources of Dioxin in some Nations

Here are data in Inventory of Sources of Dioxins in some Nations.  

Table 1 Inventory of Sources of Dioxins (PCDDs/PCDFs) in Japan (air) [1].

Sources

Central estimate (g TEQ/year)

1997

1998

Non-industrial waste incineration

4,320
(water 0.016)

1,340
(water 0.016)

Industrial waste incineration

1,300
(water 0.065)

960
(water 0.065)

Unregulated small waste incineration
(factory)

325- 345

325- 345

Crematoria

1.8- 3.8

1.8- 3.8

Steel Man.: Electric Arc Furnaces

187

114.7

Steel Foundries EAF

118.8

100.2

Zinc resumption

34.0

16.4

Secondary aluminum smelting

15.7

14.3

Other Industries

26

26

Cigarette combustion

0.075- 13.2

0.079- 13.9

Vehicle fuel combustion

2.14

2.14

Ultimate disposal site

0.078(water)

0.078(water)

Total

6,330- 6,370
(water 1.2)

2,900- 2,940
(water 0.56)

 

Table 2 Inventory of Sources of Dioxins (PCDDs/PCDFs) in the United States (Air) [2].

Sources

Central estimate (g TEQ/year)

1995

1987

Municipal waste incineration

1,100

7915

Hazardous waste incineration

5.7

5.0

Boilers/industrial furnaces

0.38

0.77

Medical waste incineration

477

2470

Crematoria

0.24

0.16

Sewage sludge incineration

6.0

6.0

Vehicle fuel combustion - leaded

0.0

32.4

Vehicle fuel combustion - unleaded

6.3

3.8

Vehicle fuel combustion - diesel

33.5

26.3

Wood combustion- residential

62.8

89.6

Wood combustion - industrial

29.1

27.5

Coal combustion

72.8

62.6

Oil combustion - industrial/utility

9.3

15.5

Cement kilns (hazardous waste burning)

153

117

Cement kilns (non-hazardous waste burning)

17.8

13.7

Cigarette combustion

0.81

1.0

Kraft recovery boilers

2.3

2.0

Forest, brush and straw fires

208

170

Secondary aluminum smelting

17

9.5

Secondary copper smelting

541

304

Secondary lead smelters

1.63

1.22

Total

2,745

11,274

 

Table 3 Inventory of Sources of Dioxins (PCDDs/PCDFs) in Netherlands (Air)[3].

Sources

Central estimate (g TEQ/year)

1989

1991

2000

Municipal solid waste incineration

697

382

3

Incineration of chemical waste

43

16

0.1

Incineration of tip gas, biogas, sludge

0.4

0.3

0.5

Incineration of hospital waste

4

2.1

0

Incineration of waste oil

2

2

2

Incineration of wood

16

12

10

Cable burning

6

1.5

0

Fires, flares

9

9

9

Traffic

7

5

2

Metal industry

45

31

7

Application of pesticides

50

42

20

Chemical processes

5

3

3

Various processes

15

10

8

TOTAL

899

516

63

 

Table 4 Dioxins (PCDDs/PCDFs) Atmospheric Emissions in Canada [4].

Sources

Central estimate (g TEQ/year)

1990

1997

1999

Municipal Waste Incineration

204

152

82.2

Wood Combustion (residential)

35.7

35.7

35.7

Iron Manufacturing: Sintering Plants

42.9

42.9

23.5

Pulp & Paper: Boilers Burning Salt Laden Wood

10.5

10.5

10.5

Steel Man.: Electric Arc Furnaces

9.1

10.2

10.2

Fuel Combustion Diesel (Traffic)

8.7

8.7

8.7

Oil Combustion (residential)

7.0

7.0

7.0

Electric Power Generation

3.4

4.6

4.6

Wood waste combustion (saw mills & P&P mills)

4.4

4.4

4.4

Cement Kilns

2.6

2.8

2.8

Hospital Incinerators

8.3

2.5

2.5

Chemical Production (air releases)

2.2

2.0

0.3

In-service Utility Poles

1.9

1.9

1.9

Wood Preserving Plants

1.8

1.8

1.8

Hazardous Waste Incinerators

2.1

1.3

0.8

Pulp & Paper: Kraft Liquour Boilers

0.7

0.7

0.7

Federal Incinerators

1.3

0.6

0.6

Steel Foundries EAF

0.4

0.5

0.5

Sewage Sludge Incinerators

0.3

0.3

0.3

Base Metals Smelting

0.1

0.1

0.1

Secondary Lead Smelters

0.1

0.1

0.1

Biomedical Waste Incineration

4.9

0.0

0.0

Total

353

290

199

1999* = projections

 

Here is a graph in comparison with these nations in regard to Total Emissions of Dioxins (Fig 1). [1][2][3][4]

 

According to Fig1, Japanese dioxin emission volume is highest in these industrial countries regardless of narrow national land. And, the waste incineration makes up the majority of emission of Dioxins. We will have to carry out 4R (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) more than ever. 

November 16, 1999

Author: Kenichi Azuma

<Reference>

[1] "Conference for Dioxin Emission Reduction" Japan Environmental Agency, June 25. 1999
http://www.eic.or.jp/kisha/199906/59539.html
 

[2] EPA's National Center for Environmental Inventory of Sources of Dioxin in the United States” (EPA/600/P-98/002Aa, April 1998).
http://www.epa.gov/ncea/diox.htm
 

[3] Dutch Environmental Agency 

[4] Canada Environmental Agency, January 1999
http://www.ec.gc.ca/dioxin/english/index.htm
"Dioxins and Furans Release Inventory Report."

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