Assessment of Incineration as a Treatment Method for Liquid Organic Hazardous Wastes. Background Report 4. Comparison of Risks from Land-Based and Ocean-Based Incineration. Volume 1

摘要

The volume addresses the comparative risks to human health and the environment from land-based and ocean incineration of liquid organic hazardous wastes. Case studies for selected waste streams (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) and ethylene dichloride wastes) were used to compare all aspects of the land and ocean incineration systems, including transportation, handling, storage, and incineration. Human health risks were found to be very low for both the land and ocean systems. Because of the greater distance from human populations, stack releases from the ocean system result in somewhat lower human health risks than land-based systems. Use of the ocean system presents a very small probability of an accident involving a hazardous waste spill from the incinerator ship. In the extremely unlikely event of a large spill of PCB wastes in the harbor or bay area, significant environmental damage could occur according to the model used.