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DIOXIN
Dioxin production is of great concern for its toxicity and because it is created in medical waste incinerators from the combination of combustion and chlorine.
Burning PVC plastics heavily
contributes to the chlorine. "Dioxin is one of the most toxic chemicals known to science. While exposure of the general
population occurs through the ingestion of many common foods, children exposed in utero during
critical periods of development appear to be the most sensitive and vulnerable to the effects of dioxin.
Dioxin exposure has been linked to disrupted sexual development, birth defects and damage to
the immune system. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC), the U.S. EPA and the National Toxicology Program have all classified dioxin as a known
human carcinogen. Because of its potential to cause harm, dioxin is one of 12 chemicals to be eliminated
under a new United Nations Treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)."1
For a quick look at the seriousness and science of dioxins, look at this short video interview by one
of the leading experts on dioxin,
Dr. Linda Birnbaum, currently Director, National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences(NIEHS).
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MERCURY
"Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, which means it attacks the body’s central nervous
system; it can also harm the brain, kidneys and lungs. It can cross the blood-brain barrier as well
as the placenta. If mercury-containing items are sent to an incinerator, mercury will contaminate the
air. Airborne mercury then enters a global distribution cycle in the environment, contaminating fish
and wildlife and the humans who eat them. Mercury pollution has led to warnings against eating
fish caught in some or all of the bodies of water in 41 U.S. states."2
The entire state of NC has a
fish advisory due to mercury.
LEAD
Lead is a highly toxic metal, and enters the body through contaminated food, water and
air. Exposure to lead can result in anemia, high blood pressure, kidney damage, brain damage,
lowered sperm counts and miscarriages. In children ex-posure to lead can cause learning
disabilities, aggression, impulsive behavior and hyperactivity.
HYDROGEN CHLORIDE/HCL
"The emission of these acids
damages local buildings and endangers the health of people in neighboring communities who
breathe the fumes, increasing the rates and severity of respiratory problems, including asthma."3
OTHER TOXINS
In addition to dioxin, mercury, lead and HCl, medical waste incinerators discharge a significant
array of other pollutants including nitrous oxides, numerous toxic organic compounds, and heavy metals such as cadmium, arsenic, berrylium, among others.
TOXINS CREATED BY INCINERATION
"New and highly toxic chemicals formed during combustion pose some of the greatest dangers of incineration.
Fragments of partially burned waste chemicals recombine within incinerator furnaces, smokestacks, and/or
pollution control devices creating hundreds, possibly thousands, of new substances. Many of these
substances are more toxic than the original waste."4 These are not necessarily included in emissions standards.
TOXIC ASH
"Modern incinerators trap some toxic metals in the "fly ash" in pollution-control
devices. The better the technology, the more toxic the fly ash. Typically, fly ash requires special
disposal in expensive hazardous waste landfills. However, fly ash is often mixed with the resulting
bottom ash to "dilute" the toxics so it can pass hazardous waste tests.... The fly and bottom ash contain
toxic metals as well as dioxins and furans. A hundred times more dioxin may leave the
incinerator in the fly ash than is emitted into the air from the smoke stacks."5
"While incinerators are designed to burn wastes, they also produce new waste in the form of ash, which
reportedly contains up to 43 different semi-volatile, organic chemicals, and runoff from wet scrubbers and/or
cooling processes has been shown to contain at least 16 organic chemicals. This ash residue waste also may
lead to contamination of soil and groundwater."6
CHILDHOOD CANCERS & CANCER INCIDENCE NEAR INCINERATORS: Check this link: http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Incinerators-Landfills-Childhood-CancersJun00.htm
