Abstract
Ashes, obtained from about one-fourth of the operating municipal refuse incinerators in the United States, were analyzed for a range of organic toxicants and mutagens. Thirty percent of the ash samples, which consisted of bottom ash or bottom ash-fly ash mixtures, contained 20–74% organic matter. Thirty percent of the ashes contained direct-acting and/or promutagens which revertedSalmonella typhimurium TA98 or TA100. Sixty percent of the ashes contained more than 5 ng/g of polychlorinated biphenyls. The concentration of tetra- and pentachlorinated biphenyls were higher than the mono-, di-, hepta- and octachlorinated biphenyls. A similar distribution of congeners was seen in polychlorinated dibenzodioxins found in the ashes. The major volatileN-nitroso compounds found in the ashes wereN-nitrosodimethylamine andN-nitrosomorpholine. Other classes of compounds which were found in the ashes included chlorinated benzenes, phthalates, and substituted benzothiophenes.
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Shane, B.S., Henry, C.B., Hotchkiss, J.H. et al. Organic toxicants and mutagens in ashes from eighteen municipal refuse incinerators. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 19, 665–673 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183982
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183982