title: Long-term monitoring of dioxins and furans near a municipal solid waste incinerator: human health risks.
abstract: Since 1996, a wide surveillance programme has been developed to get overall information on the impact of a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) have been periodically measured in soil and vegetation samples collected at locations in the incinerator surroundings. Furthermore, air PCDD/F levels have been also monitored by using active and passive sampling devices, generating a huge amount of information regarding the environmental status of the zone. In the last survey (2009-2010), mean PCDD/F levels in vegetation, soil and air were 0.06 ng I-TEQ kg(-1), 0.58 ng I-TEQ kg(-1) and 10.5 fg WHO-TEQ m(-3), respectively. Both soil and herbage showed a notable reduction in the PCDD/F concentrations in comparison with the baseline study, with this decrease only being significant for soils. In contrast, PCDD/F values in air remained similar during the whole assessment period. Human exposure to PCDD/Fs was evaluated under different scenarios, and the associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were assessed. The hazard quotient was below unity in all cases, while cancer risks were under 10(-6), which is lower than the maximum recommended guidelines. The current results clearly show that the MSWI of Tarragona does not produce additional health risks for the population living nearby.
authors: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Lolita
authors: L
authors: Vilavert
authors: Martí
authors: M
authors: Nadal
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Schuhmacher
authors: José L
authors: JL
authors: Domingo
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001572:Benzofurans; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012987:Soil; D062611:Solid Waste; C023614:dibenzofuran