DIOXIN EMISSIONS FROM WOOD COMBUSTION

The emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlo rinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) from combustion of different kinds of woo d have been determined. Emissions from natural beech wood sticks (0.01 9 to 0.064 ng TE/m(3)), natural wood chips (0.066 to 0.214 ng TE/m(3)) and uncoated chipboard chips (0.024 to 0.76 ng TE/m(3)) were low, whe reas the combustion of waste wood chips resulted in higher dioxin emis sions (between 2.70 and 14.42 ng TE/m(3)). Additionally, two specific fuels were investigated: charcoal and household waste. Charcoal used f or grilling of meat resulted in the very low PCDD/PCDF emissions of 0. 028 ng TE/m(3), whereas the emissions from the combustible part of hou sehold waste were very high (114 ng TE/m(3)). Based on the specific di oxin emissions per kg of fuel, the annual emissions from combustion of wood and the specific fuels were calculated in Switzerland to be 6.9 to 43.8 g TE.