De Novo Synthesis of PCBs in Incinerators

[Jane Williams <dcap@qnet.com>]

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Dear Colleagues,

After much consideration I must inform you that I have confirmed that PCBs are undergoing de novo synthesis in incinerator stacks.  I suspected this after reviewing incinerator stack testing in California and EPA reports, but it was recently confirmed in stack tests at the Johnson Island Chemical Weapons Incinerator.  While no PCBS were a component of the incinerator feedstock, they were present in stack gases.

Logically, this should be the case since the only difference between a dioxin molecule and a PCB molecule is one oxygen atom; since oxygen is clearly  present in large quantities in incinerators it would stand to reason that PCBs would be formed in stack gases through similar mechanisms as dioxin.

I do not have an estimate of what the emissions will amount to from all U.S.sources, but it is clear that the leading point sources of PCBs are municipal and medical waste incinerators from EPA Clean Air Act Section 112  (c) (6) listing of sources.

I'm very sorry to have to report this to you.

Jane Williams
Executive Director
California Communities Against Toxics

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