Hygienic Chemical Problems in Waste Treatment

• Published in: Eisei kagaku Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 177 - 193
• Main Authors: OSE, YOUKI, KAMIYA, AKIO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 30.06.1989
• Subjects: ash; dioxine; dumping; emission gas; humic substance; incinerator; methyl mercury; mutagen; nitropyrene; offensive odor; organopolysiloxane; polyaromatic hydrocarbone; waste
• ISSN: 0013-273X
• DOI: 10.1248/jhs1956.35.177

Waste treatment is one of the important problems concerning the environmental protection. In this paper, some problems are surveyed from the viewpoint of hygienic chemistry. In the process of waste treatment, burning and/or dumping, harmful and toxic substances are generated. Among the studies of the behavior of the pollutants, offensive odor, methyl mercury, mutagenic substances and dioxine are progressing. Odor pollutants generated from model garbage and a waste disposal factory were identified by gas chromatography or gas chromatograph-mass spectrometric data system. The field survey for a disposal site was performed, and concentrations of gases from gas wells were measured. Methylation of mercury by humic substances and by ash from refuse incineration was observed. Humic substances are still contained in ash, because some refuses are in-completely burnt. Organopolysiloxianes found in ash from incinerator methylated inorganic mercury. Mutagenic activity of refuse leachate, emission gas from municipal incinerator were determined. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons and nitropyrens as mutagens were found. The relative contributions of various routes of emission from the incinerator in the output of mutagens were evaluated. Continuous operation with a complete combustion system and activated sludge process is effective to prevent the emission of mutagens. Dioxines generated from refuse incinerator were measured in each stage of the incineration plant. Bag-filter is effective to remove its emission into atmosphere.