Archive

---

Med. Pr. 2005;56(1)

Health risk related to municipal waste incineration

Ryzyko zdrowotne związane ze spalaniem odpadów komunalnych

Andrzej Starek Z Zakładu Biochemii Toksykologicznej Katedry Toksykologii Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie

Abstract

There are exposures to various organic and inorganic xenobiotics related to municipal waste incineration in work places and environment close to incinerators. Among others, these are polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans, chlorophenols, mono- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, toxic metals and irritation gases. Numerous studies revealed that these chemicals and their metabolites were generally not elevated in workerśs blood and urine and in persons living near incinerators. The epidemiological studies indicate increased cancer risk and excess of ischemic heart disease in incinerator workers. In residents living in the vicinity of incinerators, a slightly increased cancer risk, respiratory symptoms, multiple pregnancy, congenital abnormalities,and disturbances in thyroid hormone levels were observed. However, these data do not provide univocal evidence that the cause-effect relationship between exposure and health risk does really exist.

Key words

waste incineration, exposure, cancer risk, respiratory symptoms, pre- and post-natal development