INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF REDUCED EMISSION IMPACTS FROM A BIOMEDICAL WASTE INCINERATOR - ATMOSPHERIC CHARACTERIZATION AND MODELING APPLICATIONS ON PARTICULATE MATTER AND ACID GASES

A composite approach involving wind sector analyses, receptor modeling , and dispersion modeling has been developed to estimate the impact of a biomedical waste incinerator (BWI). This is presented using measure ments of 12-h ambient air particulate matter and acid gases from a ver satile air pollutant sampler, with meteorological data obtained near t he BWI as part of a larger short-term respiratory effects study. Monit oring was performed in the same time frame for three consecutive years , the first year being prior to installation of air pollution control devices (APCDs) at the BWI, the next year with the BWI having APCDs, a nd the final year with the BWI being ''mothballed''. Use of integrated wind sector analyses and receptor/dispersion modeling provided eviden ce of reduced emission impacts at the monitoring site during the 3-yea r period. Principal component analysis combined with linear-angular co rrelation and regression provided further evidence of reduced BWI impa cts in addition to information about the nature of emission sources. T he effectiveness of applying a wind direction-based receptor/dispersio n model approach to assess emission abatement plans is demonstrated.