PCB and PAH Releases from Incineration and Power Generation Processes

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the Environment Agency. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the Environment Agency. Its officers, servants or agents accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the information, or reliance upon views contained herein. Statement of use This R&D report contains the results of a study of releases of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from incineration and other industrial process. The information is for use by EA staff (and others) involved in policy formation and regulation of these processes. Acknowledgement Dr Heidi Fiedler collaborated through the University of Bayreuth, in the first phase of this work and provided review and advice during the initial part of the study. Her contribution is gratefully acknowledged. The aim of the project was to assist the Agency in assessing the importance of releases of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from waste incineration and power generation processes. Both PCB and PAH occur as complex mixtures of many related chemicals, some of which are highly toxic and exposure to these compounds causes concern. Certain PCB which have a close structural relationship to dioxins and furans can exhibit high levels of toxicity. The Chief Medical Officer's advisory committee – the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) – advised that " dioxin-like " PCB congeners should be considered alongside dioxins and furans when assessing exposure to these compounds against the tolerable daily intake (TDI). Subsequent analysis of the UK diet has shown that up to half of overall exposure to dioxins, furans and these PCB, expressed as a toxic equivalent (TEQ) can come from the PCB. Recent data on the adverse effects of dioxin like compounds at low exposures has led the COT to revise its recommended tolerable daily intake for dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCB. Although average adult exposure is below the new TDI several parts of the UK population would be exposed to daily intakes above the TDI and this increases the pressure to take measures to reduce exposure. Consequently there is a need to identify sources of these PCB as a step in the …