A case study of dioxin monitoring in and around an industrial waste incinerator in Korea

Many studies have been conducted that monitor and trace the sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furans (PCDD/Fs) by comparing congener patterns of environmental samples with those of possible sources. In this study, we measured PCDD/F concentrations and compared congener patterns of samples of various media found in and around an industrial waste incinerator in Korea, including stack gas, fly ash, bottom ash, ambient air, soil, pine needle, and human blood. We obtained reliable data on the relationship between the PCDD/F distributions in these sources and the environment, and thus found indicators with which to assess the impact of such sources on the surrounding environment. In addition, the difference between the levels of PCDD/Fs in the blood of short-term workers and long-term workers demonstrates that these workers are exposed to the compounds produced by the indicator.