Improvements to the UK PCDD/F and PCB atmospheric emission inventory following an emissions measurement programme

PCDD/F data are presented from 75 samples of primary emissions sampled between 1995–1997 as part of the compliance monitoring survey undertaken by the UK Environment Agency. Municipal solid waste (MSW), chemical waste and clinical waste incinerators, cement kilns, sinter plants and sewage sludge incinerators were the source categories monitored and reported here. Based on this monitoring programme, the previous national UK emission estimates by Eduljee and Dyke (1) of 560–1100 g I-TEQ a−1 for 1993 have been revised downwards to 220–660 g I-TEQ a−1. Despite source reduction measures, MSW incinerators remain a significant source of PCDD/Fs to the atmosphere, contributing between 30–50% of the ΣPCDD/F I-TEQ emission, rather than the 80% they were estimated to contribute in 1993. 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/F congener profile data are presented for some of the source categories and generally support the view that differences in the mixtures (‘fingerprints’) of PCDD/Fs emitted from different sources are observed. New data on the dioxin-like PCB emissions are presented for cement kilns and sinter plants. These show that TEQ-rated PCBs can make an important contribution to the I-TEQ emitted from certain combustion sources. High concentrations of a full range of PCB congeners/homologues have been measured in the atmosphere close to sintering strands, although the precise source of PCBs from this process remains unclear.