Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in weathered bottom ash from incineration of municipal solid waste.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in weathered bottom ash from different municipal solid waste incinerators. The sum of the 16 "USEPA" PAHs was found to vary from 480 to 3590 microg/kg. The amounts of carcinogenic PAHs were between 89 and 438 microg/kg ash. The maximum levels of carcinogenic PAHs exceed the Swedish generic guidelines for sensitive land use. The results showed that the amount of PAHs in fresh and weathered bottom ash are similar, indicating that the PAHs are strongly bound to the ash and only limited amounts are released to the surroundings.
Johansson
Inger
I
Department of Natural Sciences, Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Orebro University, SE-701 82 Orebro, Sweden. inger.johansson@nat.oru.se
van Bavel
Bert
B
D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017745:Incineration; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012037:Refuse Disposal
D002273:Carcinogens; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons