Incineration Public Health Impact, Climate Change Implications, and The Ebola Crisis
Incineration Public Health Impact, Climate Change Implications, and The Ebola Crisis
Incineration Public Health Impact, Climate Change Implications, and The Ebola Crisis
Precautionary Principle
Dioxins
Short term for polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins and dibenzofurans
Family of 210 compounds
Among the most toxic compounds known
to humans
> The most toxic is
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
Persistence of Dioxins
in the Environment
Environmental half-life on surface soil:
9 to 15 years
Environmental half-life in subsurface soil:
25 to 100 years
Volatilization half-life in a body of water:
more than 50 years
Other Toxic
Pollutants
from
Incineration
Other Organic
Compounds
Trace Metals
including
Lead,
Cadmium,
Mercury
Dioxins &
Furans
Acid Gases
Carbon
Monoxide
Particulate
Matter
Toxic
Incinerator
Ash
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING
ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS
REFERENCE
Residents living
within 10 km of an
incinerator, refinery,
and waste disposal site
P. Michelozzi et al.,
Occup. Environ. Med., 55,
611-615 (1998)
Residents living
around an incinerator
and other pollution
sources
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING
ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS
REFERENCE
122 workers at an
industrial incinerator
T. Drummer, H. Dickinson
and L. Parker, Journal of
Epidemiological and
Community Health, 57,
456-461 (2003)
Secondary measures
Dedusting
Fabric filter operating below 260C
Ceramic filter used between 800 to
1000C
Cyclones for pre-cleaning
Electrostatic precipitators around
450C
High performance adsorption units
with activated carbon
Secondary measures
Techniques for further
emission reduction
Catalytic oxidation
Gas quenching
Catalyst-coated fabric filters
Different types of wet or dry
adsorption systems using mixtures
of activated charcoal, coke, lime and
limestone solutions
Monitoring
Routine monitoring of: CO, oxygen,
particulate matter, HCl, SO2, NO2, HF, air
flows, temperatures, pressure drops, and pH
Periodic or semi-continuous measurement of:
polychlorinated dioxins and furans
All reference conditions: 273K, 101.3kPa, 11% O2, dry; Small 200 lbs/hr, medium > 200 to 500 lbs/hr, and large > 500 lbs/hr.
For half hour averages, at least 97% of concentrations must meet the first value and 100% must meet the second value.
Autoclaves
600
554
Canada
Germany
MWIs
400
200
0
0
1984
2002
200
MWIs
On-Site MWIs
United States
Portugal
50
40
30
20
10
0
40
1
1995
Ireland
150
150
100
50
0
1990s
2005
2004
Treatment technologies
Waste Classification
Waste Segregation
Waste Minimization
Containerization
Color Coding
Labeling, Signage
Handling
Transport
Storage
Treatment
Final Disposal
Contingency Plans
Wastewater Treatment
Organization
System of Monitoring,
Evaluation & Improvement
Champions, Incentives
India Project
Dramatic change to a model facility for HCWM
HCWM program sparked development of infection control
program
Active HCWM committee, committed hospital leadership
Strong environmental champions among the staff
Introduction of color-coded segregation bins,
posters, training
Vastly improved internal transport system and
addition of a waste tracking and CCTV system
On-site storage/treatment facility with autoclave & shredder
Post-treatment materials recovery and recycling of plastics,
glass, etc. provides revenues to the hospital
Video documentary
www.gefmedwaste.org
Approach
Autoclave-based Technology
Problems
PPE has a seam coating that melts at 98C
PPE has flash ignition point of 343C
PPE material has a heat release capacity of about
1560 J/g-K self-sustaining combustion
PPE has a heating value of 46.3 MJ/kg (same as gasoline)
Non-Incineration Solution
Autoclaving
www.medi-clave.co.za
Recommendations
Do not use the Ebola crisis as an excuse
to bring back incineration.
Incinerators bring with them heavy health
and environmental costs.
Incinerators are not needed to destroy
Ebola.
Autoclaves are now being used effectively
in the Ebola-affected countries.
B1
A2
A1FI
Sources: Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Working Group II Contribution to the Fourth Assessment, IPCC Report,
2007; The Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia: A Regional Review, Asian Development Bank, April 2009
Philippines
Loss in GDP
Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand
& Vietnam (left) vs global (right)
GDP loss projection
[ADB Report, 2009]
Collaborative study by
(University of Hawaii at
Manoa and University of
Ryukus, Okinawa)
Source: C. Mora et al., The projected timing of climate departure from recent
variability, Nature 502, 183-187 (10 December 2013).
CONCLUDING SLIDES
My dream / my vision:
Most homes, schools, government
offices, and commercial and industrial buildings
have rooftop
. solar PVs.
Large-scale concentrated solar and wind farms and other clean
renewable sources provide the bulk of grid power.
Reforestation is successful, mangrove forests protect more coastal areas,
and urban centers have more green spaces.
Communities, especially on the coasts and flood plains, are resilient to climate change and no
one dies during intense typhoons, storm surges, and flash floods.
The agricultural, fisheries, and other sectors have adapted to climate change; no one goes
hungry, and everyone has access to quality health care.
The air is cleaner, cars run on solar, and cities are healthier and more livable.
There is greater social equity and the country follows a green,
low-carbon, climate-resilient path of development.
There is a critical mass of professionals, researchers
and educators committed to sustaining
this vision.