Emissions

	What comes out of the Chimney Stack? By Biffa’s own admission, the emissions will mostly be water (steam – unsightly at the very least and visible for a long way) and carbon dioxide. Why, in this day and age, when CO2 is the main greenhouse gas and every country is trying to decrease emissions of this gas, are Biffa planning to burn waste and create CO2? The acidic gases given off are key contributors to both smog and acid rain – bad for local farming, areas of natural beauty and historic buildings. Biffa have also stated in their brochure that they will have measures to "minimise nitrogen oxide emissions, neutralise acidic gasses and facilitate the removal of dust, metal compounds and dioxins". Well, that should be OK then. Biffa will do their best (and we know how good their best has been in the past) to make sure we only get some of these airborne poisons.

	What does the man from Biffa have to say about this? When pressed on what the metal compounds were that would be 'removed' the Biffa representative at their presentation at the Roebuck Hotel eventually cited arsenic, mercury and chromium, along with others. When pressed further as to whether any of these would actually emerge from the top of the stack he eventually agreed that some would. Following on from this we asked another Biffa representative if he would want to live near this stack, he was ultimately cornered into giving an honest answer and he said that "NO, HE WOULDN'T LIVE NEAR THIS INCINERATION PLANT"

	What are the Effects of the Emissions? It is the invisible emissions which pose the most threat. Here is a list from the Environment Agency’s own website of the substances that are emitted in incinerators and for which they have to test. You can read more about these particles (nanoparticles) on the Health Effects page on this website. Bear in mind that over 250 substances have been found in incinerator emissions, but these are the ones for which the Environment Agency test: Tested for releases to air  Effects Many of the following statements have been taken from the UK Environment Agency website Also tested for in ground water Particulate matter Respiratory conditions.  yes - as suspended solids VOCs (as total organic carbon) - volatile organic compounds are numerous and varied. Although ubiquitous in nature and modern industrial society, they may be harmful or toxic.   Hydrogen chloride Hydrogen chloride is highly corrosive and attacks many metals to form combustible gases. Hydrogen chloride is very soluble in water and so tends to wash out of emissions in the air in rain, so limiting the distance over which the releases may be spread. The gas dissolves in water to form an acid which is toxic to aquatic life. It also attacks limestone, resulting in the corrosion of buildings and other cultural monuments.   Hydrogen fluoride Hydrogen fluoride emissions can cause damage to plants and be harmful to cattle and other domestic animals.   Carbon monoxide The major concerns associated with this gas include its effects on health because it attaches itself to our red blood cells preventing the up-take of oxygen when we breathe. Carbon monoxide also contributes to the formation of low-level ozone and indirectly to an enhancement of global warming through reactions with other gases in the lower atmosphere.   Sulphur dioxide The major gases involved with acid rain formation are sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These gases dissolve in the water droplets in clouds causing the rain to be more acidic that usual. Pollutants can be transported thousands of kilometres due to the introduction of tall chimneys dispersing pollutants high in the atmosphere. Acid rain affects the natural composition of rivers, lakes and soils, resulting in damage to wildlife and vegetation.   Nitrogen oxides Nitrogen oxides (NOx), a mixture of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)   Nitrogen dioxide Nitrogen dioxide is an odourous, brown, acidic, highly-corrosive gas that can affect our health and environment. Vegetation exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide can be identified by damage to foliage, decreased growth or reduced crop yield.   Nitric oxide Nitric oxide does not significantly affect human health. On the other hand,elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide cause damage to the mechanisms that protect the human respiratory tract and can increase a person's susceptibility to, and the severity of, respiratory infections and asthma. Long-term exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide can cause chronic lung disease.   Ammonia Ammonia can be smelled in the air at quite low concentrations. It is very toxic to water-dwelling organisms. It is one of the gases important in "acid rain", playing an important part in the long range transport of the acidic pollutants. It can also contribute to localised soil acidification.   Cadmium ( +compounds) Adverse effects on the kidneys and the lungs.  yes Thallium (+compounds) Once it enters the environment thallium stays in the air, water, and soil for a long time and is not broken down. It's absorbed by plants and enters the food chain. It is not known if breathing or ingesting thallium over a period of time affects human reproduction or the central nervous system.  yes Mercury(+ compounds) Almost 100% of the elemental mercury present in the waste is emitted to air. Mercury affects the central nervous system.  yes Antimony (+ compounds) Antimony compounds show toxic properties similar to those of arsenic. Most antimony that is released into the environment ends up in soils. It is classed as toxic to aquatic organisms.   Arsenic (+ compounds) Arsenic and some of its compounds may cause cancer and genetic damage. Arsenic is toxic to wildlife, persisting in the environment and accumulating in living organisms.  yes Lead(+ compounds) Lead and some of its compounds may affect the development of the brain in children and the unborn child.   yes Chromium (+ compounds) There are many different chromium containing compounds, some of which are toxic. Chromium and its compounds may cause cancer and genetic damage.  yes Cobalt (+ compounds) The toxicity of cobalt is quite low compared to many other metals in soil. Exposure to very high levels of cobalt can cause health effects.   Copper (+ compounds) Deposited copper in soils is toxic to certain soil micro-organisms and can disrupt processes such as nutrient cycling or inhibit other processes such as the mineralisation of nitrogen and phosphorous. Accumulation in species varies significantly as does their ability to cope with a range of copper levels in their bodies. Toxic effects have been observed in some species of fish and in other aquatic organisms.  yes Manganese (+ compounds) Manganese releases to the environment could lead to high levels of manganese accumulating in crops such as cereals.   Vanadium (+compounds) No significant local impacts are considered likely unless unusually high concentrations are released from ash dumps.   Nickel (+ compounds) Nickel and its compounds can be harmful to wildlife. Nickel may cause cancer and genetic damage.  yes Zinc (+ compounds) Zinc can accumulate in aquatic organisms but not in plants, and be toxic to such species and those that feed off them. High environmental exposures that can cause concern over possible harmful effects are rare in the UK.  yes Dioxins Dioxins are a group of chlorinated organic molecules that are extremely toxic to humans. EC Directive limits their production in incinerators to 0.1ng/m3. They build up primarily in fatty tissues over time so even small exposures may eventually reach dangerous levels. In 1994, the US EPA reported that dioxins are a probable carcinogen, but noted that non-cancer effects (reproduction and sexual development, immune system) may pose an even greater threat to human health. They also cause behaviour difficulties and learning problems.  yes Furans Furans and dioxins can adversely affect human and animal health in a number of ways, including affecting the immune and reproductive systems, liver damage, neurobehavioural development, birth defects and cancer.  yes Dioxin-like PCBs Scientific concerns about PCBs arose from research indicating they were likely carcinogens having the potential to adversely impact the environment and therefore undesirable as commercial products. Dioxin-like PCBs have similar properties to dioxins and generally are among the most toxic.   PAH - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons As a pollutant, they are of concern because some compounds have been identified as carcinogenic, mutagenic , and teratogenic  - which means abnormalities of physiological development.

	Some Expert Opinion The dangers from these substances are obvious and although Biffa have to keep to some rigorously laid down guidelines, the following informed quotes need to be borne in mind.   “Every incinerator ever built emits a whole cocktail of chemicals every hour of its operational life. Sometimes in large quantities, as during an upset or unauthorised releases. Sometimes in small quantities. Some chemicals, like dioxin and dioxin-like compounds are nearly always released in trace quantities, which the industry tells us are ‘insignificant’ amounts. However, because of their toxicity and persistence these traces are known to be the most dangerous. Advocates of burning waste who make claims that these amount are too small to have an impact on any section of society are quite simply lying and cannot, when challenged, provide one genuinely conducted scientific study to prove what they say is true. These ‘insignificant amounts’ build up in the environment, human tissue and fat and consequently become a larger amount within the body and environment.” Ralph Ryder “Several European doctors associations (including cross discipline experts such as physicians, environmental chemists and toxicologists) in June 2008 representing over 33,000 doctors wrote a keynote statement directly to the European Parliament citing widespread concerns on incinerator particle emissions and the absence of specific fine and ultrafine particle size monitoring or in depth industry/ government epidemiological studies of these minute and invisible incinerator particle size emissions.” Wikipedia   Heavy metals which can be toxic at very minute levels “are liberated in the form of tiny particles or gases, which ... vastly increase the potential surface area of contact between themselves and the environment. They also penetrate deep into human lungs, where they are rapidly exchanged with the bloodstream.” Paul Connett

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