Levels of PCDD/FS in ambient air and soil in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator in Hsinchu

Chemosphere. 2003 Sep;52(9):1389-96. doi: 10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00474-0.

Abstract

Levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were determined in twenty-one ambient air samples, eight soil samples and two stack gas samples, collected near or in a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in Hsinchu, Taiwan. A systematic decrease of PCDD/Fs in the ambient air from the northeastern area was observed. PCDD/Fs levels measured in the ambient air range from 0.058 to 0.127 pg-TEQ/m3. Higher PCDD/Fs levels in the ambient air were found during winter. In addition, PCDD/Fs levels measured in the soil range from 0.524 to 5.02 pg-TEQ/g d.m. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) did not provide sufficient evidence that the environmental PCDD/Fs contamination was caused by emissions from the Hsinchu MSWI. An unknown PCDD/Fs source was proposed using congener profile analysis and supported by both PCA and HCA.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Benzofurans / analysis*
  • Benzofurans / chemistry
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Incineration*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analogs & derivatives*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analysis*
  • Seasons
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*
  • Taiwan
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Benzofurans
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
  • Soil Pollutants
  • dibenzofuran