Atmospheric impact assessment and monitoring of dioxin emissions of municipal solid waste incinerators in Portugal

In Portugal two municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerators are under construction in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto. During the development of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies of these units the authors found several limitations and uncertainties associated to the assessment of the enviromnental impact. Uncertainties were particularly felt on the assessment of the environmental impacts associated with the atmospheric emissions of PCDD and PCDF. At present an External Monitoring Plan is under design.