The relative contribution of wood and poly(vinyl chloride) to emissions of PCDD and PCDF from house fires.
Emissions of PCDD/F from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) burned in house fires has been estimated at <1 g I-TEQ/yr in the US. In the current literature-based study, amounts of wood (21,000 kg) and PVC (180 kg) in a new house of standard construction are calculated and previously published emission factors for wood (0.01-173 microg/t) and PVC (3-6554 microg/t) are reported. Test conditions under which emission factors are generated differ and may not be directly comparable. Typically, PVC is tested at small-scale under relatively poor combustion conditions and wood is tested at large-scale under good combustion conditions. Thus, overall emission from combustion of these two materials of construction in house fires on an as-used basis is estimated to be similar (on the order of 1 g/yr) and a small contributor to the PCDD/F sources inventory. No speculation is made with respect to contents, roofing or other materials of construction.
Carroll
W F
WF
The Vinyl Institute, Arlington, VA 22209, USA. william_f_carroll@oxy.com
D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005390:Fires; D006798:Housing; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014934:Wood
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride