title: Enviromental impact of a hospital waste incineration plant in Krakow (Poland).
abstract: The environmental impact of a hospital waste incineration plant in Krakow was investigated. The objective of this study was to assess the degree of environmental effect of the secondary solid waste generated during the incineration process of medical waste. The analysis of pollution of the air emissions and leaching test of ashes and slag were carried out. The obtained results allowed us to conclude that (i) the hospital waste incineration plant significantly solves the problems of medical waste treatment in Krakow; (ii) the detected contaminant concentrations were generally lower than the permissible values; (iii) the generated ashes and slag contained considerable concentrations of heavy metals, mainly zinc, and chloride and sulfate anions. Ashes and slag constituted 10-15% of the mass of incinerated wastes; they are more harmful for the environment when compared with untreated waste, and after solidification they can be deposited in the hazardous waste disposal.
authors: Department of Environment Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environment Protection, Krakow, Poland. agnieszkagielar@geol.agh.edu.pl
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Gielar
authors: Edeltrauda
authors: E
authors: Helios-Rybicka
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D017745:Incineration; D008284:Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011044:Poland; D033362:Powder Diffraction; D018505:Waste Management
keywords: Ashes; environmental impact; heavy metals; hospital waste incineration plant; leaching test; slag