BIOMONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS NEAR A MUNICIPAL SOLID-WASTECOMBUSTOR

Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) and selected metal concentrations were measured in eggs and nestlings of anhingas (Anhinga anhinga) and white ibises (Eudocimus albus) collecte d from a colony next to a municipal solid-waste (MSW) combustor and as h landfill. Most of the measured residues, including TCDD, TCDF, arsen ic, beryllium, cadmium and nickel, remained at pre-operational levels during the first five years of facility operation. Selenium (in anhing as) and mercury (in both anhingas and ibises) occurred at their lowest concentrations in samples collected during the fifth year of facility operation (Year-5). Alternatively, concentrations of lead in ibis nes tlings were highest in Year-1 and Year-5 compared to Year-0. The MSW c ombustor could neither be ruled out nor confirmed as the source of thi s lead. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.