[Dioxin-l] Need come-backs on industry dioxin statements (inc. thermal desorption)

[david bell]

Hi Mike

>I'm working on disputing claims about dioxin by a company that runs a
>rotary-kiln contaminated soil remediation incinerator in Philadelphia,
>Pennsylvania.  The comments I'm writing up are due right away, so any
>refutations that any of you can offer ASAP would be MUCH appreciated.
>
>Here are their statements:
>
>· "Dioxins have probably always been present in the environment"

True; but dioxin levels went up about 10-fold from the 30's/ 40's, at the 
same time as the growth of the chemical industry. See:
http://www.epa.gov/ncea/dei.htm
you'll find a whole load of stuff on historical analysis of dioxin. I think 
there is a consensus that the majority of the dioxin in the environment is 
man-made.
Current levels of dioxin in the environment are a source for concern- you 
can search in the archives for the references to EU, WHO and US TDIs.

>
>· "Studies have indicated that, since the late 1970's, the emissions of
>dioxins and dioxin-like compounds have decreased significantly due to
>process changes and better pollution controls."

true

>
>· "There is a wealth of evidence to indicate that thermal desorption does
>not produce dioxins, even when processing chlorinated compounds."
>
>· "Thermal desorption is, in fact, becoming a widely used process for
>cleaning-up dioxin contamination because of these controls."
>
>·  "The facility does not accept the types of wastes (high chlorine
>concentrations) that are thought to lead to dioxin formation."

everything produces some dioxin- the question is how much, and whether this 
is acceptable. There are others on the list who will speak with more 
knowledge on the subject of incineration.

david bell



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