Abstract

Emission measurements at the municipal solid waste incinerator (MSW) AVR at Rozenburg show an average dioxin concentration of 53 ng TEQ/Nm3 (dry, 11% oxygen) in the stack gas. Levels are expressed in 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity equivalents (TEQ). The measured level of chlorinated dioxins and furans in the stack gas is considered to be rather high for this type of installation in comparison with other MSWs in the Netherlands. The yearly emission of these compounds is estimated to be 253 g TEQ/year from this installation, which makes the AVR the quantitatively most important among the known dioxin sources in the Netherlands. According to dispersion model calculations this emission contributes considerably to the yearly mean deposition in the surroundings, viz. on average 23 (11-43) ng TEQ/(m2.year) over an area of 20x20 km2 and a maximum of 116 (61-233) ng TEQ/(m2.year) at 700 m North-East of the installation. The background deposition is estimated at a level of 8 ng TEQ/(m2.year). As a result of the AVR dioxin emissions, high concentrations were found in the "Lickebaert" area. Concentrations in soil have been found of 27 (18-51) ng TEQ/kg dry soil (5 pastures), which exceed the draft tolerable level for soil in pastures of 10 ng TEQ/kg dry soil. Levels in slaughter products were found between 6.1- 11.2 pg TEQ/g fat and in cow's milk between 2.8-12.6 pg TEQ/g milk fat. The standard for cow's milk is 6 pg TEQ/g milk fat.