ESTIMATING CONCENTRATIONS OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS AND DIBENZOFURANS IN THE STACK GAS OF A HAZARDOUS-WASTE INCINERATOR FROM CONCENTRATIONS OF CHLORINATED BENZENES AND BIPHENYLS

We investigated the relationships among concentrations of polychlorina ted dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), dibenzofurans (PCDF), benzenes (PCBz), p henols (PCPh), and biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon s (PAH) measured in the stack gas of a hazardous waste incinerator. In ternational toxicity equivalents (I-TE) correlated most significantly with PCBz and PCB concentrations. We therefore propose to utilize thes e classes of compounds as indicator parameters from which I-TE values can be estimated. The most accurate estimates were made using pentachl orobenzene (Cl(5)Bz). The proposal to use Cl(5)Bz as indicator paramet er was supported by regression analyses performed for four additional sampling points within the hazardous waste incinerator and by literatu re data.