Comparative Assessment of Particulate Air Pollution Exposure from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Emissions

Author:

Ashworth Danielle C.1,Fuller Gary W.2,Toledano Mireille B.1,Font Anna2,Elliott Paul3,Hansell Anna L.3,de Hoogh Kees3

Affiliation:

1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St Mary’s Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK

2. MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King’s College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK

3. Small Area Health Statistics Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St Mary’s Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK

Abstract

Background.Research to date on health effects associated with incineration has found limited evidence of health risks, but many previous studies have been constrained by poor exposure assessment. This paper provides a comparative assessment of atmospheric dispersion modelling and distance from source (a commonly used proxy for exposure) as exposure assessment methods for pollutants released from incinerators.Methods.Distance from source and the atmospheric dispersion model ADMS-Urban were used to characterise ambient exposures to particulates from two municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) in the UK. Additionally an exploration of the sensitivity of the dispersion model simulations to input parameters was performed.Results.The model output indicated extremely low ground level concentrations of PM10, with maximum concentrations of <0.01 μg/m3. Proximity and modelled PM10concentrations for both MSWIs at postcode level were highly correlated when using continuous measures (Spearman correlation coefficients ~ 0.7) but showed poor agreement for categorical measures (deciles or quintiles, Cohen’s kappa coefficients ≤ 0.5).Conclusion.To provide the most appropriate estimate of ambient exposure from MSWIs, it is essential that incinerator characteristics, magnitude of emissions, and surrounding meteorological and topographical conditions are considered. Reducing exposure misclassification is particularly important in environmental epidemiology to aid detection of low-level risks.

Funder

MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health

Publisher

Hindawi Limited

Subject

Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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