title: Emissions from open burning of used agricultural pesticide containers.
abstract: Emissions from simulated open burning of used agricultural pesticide containers were sampled for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs), and particle matter (PM(10) and PM(2.5)). Clean high density polyethylene (HDPE) containers, containers with trace pesticide, and triple-rinsed containers were burned separately in an open combustion facility and their emissions compared. Two common chlorinated pesticides were used: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1-chloro-3-ethylamino-5-isopropylamino-2,4,6-triazine (atrazine). PCDD/PCDF emission factors ranged from 0.1 to 24ng toxic equivalents (TEQ)/kg C burned with a mean and median of 4.9 and 1.9ng TEQ/kgC burned, respectively. In a limited number of trials, the trace 2,4-D in the HDPE container led to a statistically significant increase in PCDD/PCDF formation compare to all other conditions. Residual atrazine did not lead to more PCDD/PCDF than the unrinsed 2,4-D container. Total (16 compounds) PAH emission factors varied from 1.5 to 6.7mg/kgC burned. These limited data suggest that rinsing the 2,4-D container prior to burning reduces both PCDD/PCDF and PAH emissions. Nine PM(2.5) emission factors ranged from 9 to 35mg/gC burned and ten PM(10) values ranged from 6 to 43mg/gC burned. Neither pesticide appeared to have any effect on PM concentration.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA. Gullett.Brian@epamail.epa.gov
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Gullett
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tabor
authors.forename: Abderrahmane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Touati
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fitz
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001280:Atrazine / Q000032:analysis; D006540:Herbicides / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D010316:Particle Size; D010575:Pesticides; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D006540:Herbicides; D010575:Pesticides; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D001280:Atrazine