Cadmium and Lead in Bio-Medical Waste Incinerators
Abstract
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has reported relatively high concentrations of cadmium and lead in recent tests of Bio-Medical Waste Incinerators (BMWI) in California. Cadmium and lead have been observed in the stack gas of incinerators before application of controls. Both metals appear to have been enriched in the fly ash. Sources of cadmium and lead in BMMWIs were investigated. Based on a review of the literature, compounds of cadmium and lead are used as heat and light stabilizers, and as pigments in various plastics, particularly in polyvinyl chlorides (PVC). The high HCI content of stack gases indicates a significant fraction of the waste stream contains chlorinated plastics. In samples analyzed from a hospital waste stream lead was found in several plastic items, as well as in paper packaging material. A source of cadmium was not positively identified, however, it appeared to be present in the casing of an alkaline battery. Both metals may also be present in inks, metallic items (needles, scalpels, etc), paper products, and paints. However, there was no evidence from which could be concluded that such items contributed to the observed levels of cadmium and lead. If sources of cadmium and lead can be identified, hospital administrators may be able to reduce or eliminate metal emissions by pressuring industry to change the composition of the source materials or by limiting their introduction into the incinerator waste stream.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA217444
Entities
People
- Donald C. Hickman
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology