Estimation of dioxin emission from fires in chemicals.
The formation of the 17 toxic 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs and PCDFs during combustion of selected chemicals were measured by high-resolution GC/MS. The 16 chemicals studied were commonly used chlorinated pesticides, industrial chemicals, and PVC. In a series of experiments carried out in a DIN 53,436 furnace, 2.5 g of these compounds were burned at 500 degrees C and 900 degrees C, respectively. The resultant yields ranged from 740 ng ITEQ/g for pentachlorophenol, to below 0.01 ng ITEQ/g for PVC and dichlobenil. The results show that some chemicals generate PCDD/F in very high--possibly dangerous--amounts during burning, whereas others generate insignificant amounts. The influence of scale were studied for chlorobenzene and 4-chloro-3-nitro-benzoic acid in additional experiments, carried out in a cone calorimeter burning 20 g substance, and in ISO 9705 room test burning about 50 kg. A good agreement between the results for large and small scale indicated that formation of PCCD/F during a fire may be estimated from laboratory experiments. This suggest laboratory test may be used to screen for chemicals posing a hazard for release of PCDD/F during fires.
Vikelsøe
J
J
National Environmental Research Institute, Roskilde, Denmark. JV@dmv.dk
Johansen
E
E
D001572:Benzofurans / Q000737:chemistry; D002617:Chemical Industry; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D005390:Fires; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000737:chemistry
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D010575:Pesticides; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride