PCBs contributions to the total TEQ released from Korean municipal and industrial waste incinerators

Non-ortho and mono-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined i n the stack gases and the fly-ash from nine Korean municipal solid waste in cinerators (MSWIs). Soil samples collected near MSWI and industrial waste i ncinerator (IWI) sites were also examined for PCBs. The PCBs levels in the stack gas samples ranged between 0.0046 and 12.0 TEQ-ng/Nm(3). The PCB homo logue profiles were distinct for the stack gas samples and different from t he fly-ash. PCBs levels in soil samples collected near MSWIs and IWI ranged between 0.86 and 19.73 TEQ-ng/g with background levels of 0.17 TEQ-ng/g. T he lower chlorination PCBs were dominant in the soil samples. The stack emi ssion PCBs homologue patterns were compared to those detected in the soil s amples. The findings suggest that localized point sources as well air mass movement contribute to the deposition of PCBs onto soil. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.