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Abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has investigated particle emissions from the incineration of various waste feeds. Emission particles from the incineration of municipal, medical/pathological, plastic and mixed wastes were captured and subsequently tested for biological activity. An ion-exchange fractionation of emission extracts yielded a base/neutral subfraction that contained a large portion of the total biological activity found. This subfraction was known to contain nonpolar neutrals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are known mutagens and carcinogens. A modified version of U.S. EPA Method 610 for PAHs was utilized to quantify 15 of the 16 priority pollutant PAHs found in emission particle extracts. Modification of HPLC Method 610 consisted of time-programmed excitation and emission wavelength selection for fluorescence detection and use of a PAH-specific, reverse-phase C18 LC column. Only the PAH acenaphthylene, which has a low fluorescence intensity, could not be quantified at the desired levels using optimized fluorescence detection. PAH detection limits from 0.001 to 0.07 ng/ml extract were obtained. Emission rates based upon extractable organic matter, stack gas, mass of combusted waste and heating potential were calculated for each PAH and incinerator.