Tire burning

["pacific justice center" <pjc@igc.apc.org>]

	I am working with a group of citizens who are trying to stop a 
co-generation plant from switching to a fuel mix that would be 50% 
tire chips.  Any information anyone has as to the adverse 
environmental impacts of tire-to-energy plants would be helpful.  I 
am, however, particularly interested in dioxin/furan emissions.  The 
IARC monograph on rubber lists over a hundred pages of the chemicals 
that are commonly found in rubber, many of which are organochlorines, 
including pentachlorophenol. Tires thus appear to provide a rich source of carbon, hydrogen, and 
chlorine.  Since these tires are being burned, heat is obviously 
present.  Industry -- via chlorophiles -- informs us that the 
presence of certain metallic catalysts has a large bearing on the 
amount of dioxin that is produced.  Tires contain steel belts, which 
are alloys of iron, carbon, molybendum, and probably chromium.  The 
cogeneration plant is already emitting lead, arsenic, and zinc.  To 
what extent do these metals act as catalysts for the formation of 
dioxin/furans?  Can anyone give me journal cites and/or the names of 
experts?  What are the records of other tire-to-energy facilities?  
The present plant burns wood waste.  How does the temperature in such 
a plant compare to the higher temperatures the chlorophiles say 
destroy most dioxin-like compounds?  Is there any validity to 
comparing wood/tire-to-energy plants with cement kilns?  To municipal 
or medical waste incinerators?  Any and all information would be 
appreciated.  Send it to the list or to my mailbox -- pjc@igc.apc.org