To the genotoxicity of stack gas condensates of Bavarian waste incineration plants - IV. Overview and short comments on the results

Emissions from waste incineration plants can be monitored relatively simply and cost-effectively via stack gas condensates. We compared quantitative c hemical-analytic data of stack gases with two genotoxicity tests. The tests employed, i.e. a new, simple UDS assay variant with the human lung cell li nes NCI-H 322 and 358, developed for this purpose, and an automated version of the SOS chromotest, were validated with respect to the contents of stac k gases analytically detected. As judged by Bavarian waste incineration pla nts, sampled in the years 1990 to 1995, we obtained the following principle results: 1. A drastic reduction of the genotoxicity from stack gases in the sampling period was observed with both tests. 2. There were found genotoxic stack gases with the more sensitive UDS assay also in modern plants at the end of sampling period. 3. Up to 99% of the organic components were not detected by chemical analys is despite an extensive program of analytics. 4. The concentrations of the quantified cancerogenic organic single substan ces from the samples did not suffice to explain genotoxic effects in the st ack gases. Unknown, not identified stack gas contents are mainly responsibl e for the genotoxic potential of the stack gases. 5. According to our results, emissions of modern waste incineration plants are likely to increase the genotoxic hazardous potential of the air only in significantly even in pollution-free zones.