Air pollution fears over incinerators

THE release of dioxins from incineration plants will increase 100 fold if the Government’s plans for new incinerators proceed, figures released today predict.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the nine industrial incinerators already operational in Ireland produced just 0.015% of all dioxins in 2000.

But that figure will soar to 17% in 2010 if the Government proceeds with plans to build seven more incinerators for municipal and hazardous waste.

Green councillor Ciaran Cuffe said the increased dioxin emissions were a cause for concern. “I know that in certain US states, such as Connecticut, you aren’t allowed eat fish caught in the rivers because of contamination from incineration,” he said.

“And I think it’s important Ireland doesn’t go down the road of incineration, because it will not only pollute but also reduce the imperative to recycle,” Cllr Cuffe said.

The effects of exposure to dioxins on humans can range from skin lesions and liver damage to impairment of the immune system, other organ problems and even damage to developing foetuses. Chronic exposure of animals to dioxins has resulted in several types of cancer.

By 2010 the Government plans to be incinerating one million tonnes of municipal waste each year. But despite strict controls at these plants to limit the amount of contaminated ash released into the environment, the EPA predicts the proposed incinerators would eventually contribute 1.8% of all dioxin emissions into the air by 2010.

However, the EPA figures show that dioxins produced by the public far exceed those released as a result of incineration. Three-quarters of the dioxins produced in Ireland in 2000 were caused by activities such as the burning of domestic waste.

The Department of the Environment and Local Government said the dioxin emissions from a range of public activities were greater than those from incinerators. For example,

according to the EPA estimates, dioxin releases from domestic waste burning were 2,600 times higher than those from incinerators in 2000. However, the EPA qualified its findings by saying the study was not based on hard data but on educated estimates.

Environment Minister Martin Cullen said the issue of dioxins had been emotive and controversial due to unnecessary concern and misinformation about the extent and impact of dioxin emissions from incineration.

“Contrary to assertions that proposed thermal treatment facilities for waste will greatly increase dioxin emissions, the report indicates that in 2000 our existing nine hazardous waste incinerators contributed a fraction of 1% of the national dioxin emissions to air,” Mr Cullen said.

“Overall the report anticipates that, even with significant waste incineration, annual dioxin emissions to air from all sources will fall by over 10% by 2010,” he said.