Author, as appears in the article.: Vilavert, Lolita; Nadal, Marti; Schuhmacher, Marta; Domingo, Jose L
Department: Enginyeria Química Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques
URV's Author/s: Domingo Roig, José Luis / Nadal Lomas, Martí / Schuhmacher Ansuategui, Marta
Keywords: Spain Soil pollutants Soil Risk assessment Polymers Polychlorodibenzofuran Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins Metals, heavy Incineration Humans Environmental monitoring Benzofurans
Abstract: The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), as well as the levels of a number of heavy metals, have been periodically measured in samples of soil and vegetation collected around a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain) for approximately 20 years. Since 2007, the levels of the above-mentioned pollutants have also been determined in air samples by means of either active or passive samplers. In the present study, data regarding the environmental impact of the MSWI, in terms of PCDD/Fs and heavy metals, are updated. The temporal trends of these pollutants were evaluated by comparison with data from previous surveys. In the current survey (2013-2014), mean concentrations of PCDD/Fs in soil, vegetation, and air were 0.63 ng I-TEQ/g, 0.07 ng I-TEQ/g, and 10.1 fg WHO-TEQ/m(3), respectively. Decreases of 47 and 35 % of PCDD/Fs in soil and vegetation, respectively, were observed in relation to the background study (1999). Regarding air samples, a slight temporal decrease of the PCDD/F levels was also found with the remaining concentrations staying nearly constant through time. With respect to metals, notable fluctuations in the concentrations were noted, being dependent on each specific environmental monitor. Overall, the current exposure to PCDD/Fs and metals does not mean any additional health risks for the population living near the facility. In conclusion, the results of the present study show that the environmental impact of the Tarragona MSWI is not significant, in terms of PCDD/Fs and heavy metals, after >20 years of continuous operation.
Thematic Areas: Zootecnia / recursos pesqueiros Toxicology Saúde coletiva Química Pollution Nutrição Medicine (miscellaneous) Medicina veterinaria Medicina ii Medicina i Materiais Interdisciplinar Health, toxicology and mutagenesis Geociências Farmacia Environmental sciences Engenharias iii Engenharias ii Engenharias i Enfermagem Ciências biológicas ii Ciências biológicas i Ciências ambientais Ciências agrárias i Ciência de alimentos Biotecnología Biodiversidade Astronomia / física
licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
ISSN: 00904341
Author's mail: joseluis.domingo@urv.cat marti.nadal@urv.cat marta.schuhmacher@urv.cat
Author identifier: 0000-0001-6647-9470 0000-0002-0217-4827 0000-0003-4381-2490
Record's date: 2024-10-12
Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
Papper original source: Archives Of Environmental Contamination And Toxicology. 69 (2): 241-253
APA: Vilavert, Lolita; Nadal, Marti; Schuhmacher, Marta; Domingo, Jose L (2015). Two decades of environmental surveillance in the vicinity of a waste incinerator: Human health risks associated with metals and PCDD/Fs. Archives Of Environmental Contamination And Toxicology, 69(2), 241-253. DOI: 10.1007/s00244-015-0168-1
Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Journal publication year: 2015
Publication Type: Journal Publications
Repositori URV