ESTIMATING CONCENTRATIONS OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS AND DIBENZOFURANS IN THE STACK GAS OF A HAZARDOUS-WASTE INCINERATOR FROM CONCENTRATIONS OF CHLORINATED BENZENES AND BIPHENYLS

We investigated the relationships among concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), dibenzofurans (PCDF), benzenes (PCBz), phenols (PCPh), and biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) measured in the stack gas of a hazardous waste incinerator. International toxicity equivalents (I-TE) correlated most significantly with PCBz and PCB concentrations. We therefore propose to utilize these classes of compounds as indicator parameters from which I-TE values can be estimated. The most accurate estimates were made using pentachlorobenzene (Cl(5)Bz). The proposal to use Cl(5)Bz as indicator parameter was supported by regression analyses performed for four additional sampling points within the hazardous waste incinerator and by literature data.