U.S., Canada planning to study dioxin emissions from iron and steel plants Federal environmental agencies in the United States and Canada hope to launch a bilateral research effort next year to investigate dioxin emissions from iron and steel plants on both sides of the border. The pending research program follows recent European reports that iron and steel producers are significant sources of dioxin in the atmosphere. "Right now, we don't have that much data in North America," said Patrick Finlay of Environment Canada's environmental protection branch in Ottawa. According to David Cleverly, a scientist in EPA's Office of Research and Development, "The Europeans have proposed that iron and steel facilities may be major sources [of dioxin], but we don't know if that is the case in the United States." Studies over the past several years by government agencies in Europe have identified certain iron and steel producers as major dioxin producers; and environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have been calling for regulations to address the problem. Attention has focused on plants that use a recycling process called "sintering" and on mills that use electric arc furnaces. In the United Kingdom, for example, iron and steel facilities are the second largest source of airborne dioxin; municipal waste incinerators are first. Government studies in the Netherlands and Australia have drawn similar conclusions. Although similar iron and steel plants exist in North America, environmental agencies have not done stack tests to assess dioxin emissions. In most studies, including those in the United States, incineration is generally considered the major source of airborne dioxins. The joint program would probably involve stack testing at several plants, which would be selected after consultation between the two agencies. EPA has already begun stack testing at two U.S. plants and would share those data with Environment Canada as part of the joint research effort. One obstacle to be overcome
is the cost of a cooperative research program: Each stack test can run at least $50,000. "One reality, to be frank, is how to deal with the resource question," said Finlay. Both Finlay and Cleverly said they hope to reach agreement on a cooperative testing program before the end of the
year, with research beginning early in 1998. Because much of Canada's acid rain problem has been attributed to sulfur dioxide emissions from the United States, Canadian researchers are interested in learning more about the atmospheric transport of dioxin emissions from plants in the States. "There is no question that, bilaterally and internationally, this could be an issue," said Finlay. The iron and steel industry, meanwhile, is "aware that EPA plans some testing but has not been contacted about this program specifically," said Nancy Gravatt of the American Iron and Steel Institute. Gravatt also challenged the efficacy of the European studies. "There is certainly some question about whether the European data are sound and if they are transferable to this country," she said. Independently, EPA has already begun testing at steel plants in Illinois and Ohio as part of its effort to develop new toxic air emissions standards for the industry. The standards aren't expected to be finalized until 2000. —RAE TYSON
FOOD SAFETY Alarm over recycled metals in fertilizers kicks off review A series of news articles in the Seattle-Times detailing crop loss and health problems from the use of fertilizers allegedly containing recycled industrial wastes and radionuclides sparked human health studies and the creation of an EPA work group to examine whether national action is needed. Angry letters from citizens concerned about food safety flooded the Washington State departments of ecology, agriculture, and health, and EPA, after the articles ran in early July, officials said. The practice of using recycled industrial wastes containing metals is typical in the fertilizer industry. Copper, zinc, sodium, and other elements are either mined or found in recycled waste and added to fertilizer to ensure plant growth. Although federal rules restrict the direct land disposal of heavy metals, the rules change if the constituents are recycled into the fertilizer, said EPA's Jeff Hennapel. If the added constituents have chemically bonded with the fertilizer and the product does not exhibit hazardous waste characteristics, the product can be applied to land. Shortly after the articles were published, Washington regulators screened 35 products to analyze metal levels in the fertilizers. Although the results have not been fully analyzed, Washington officials noted that the information indicates there is no reason to worry about the food supply. Gov. Gary Locke's (D) administration also issued a 10-point plan proposing state legislation to require standards for heavy metals in all fertilizers. The EPA work group is looking at all fertilizers—not just those containing recycled industrial wastes—to determine whether cumulative exposures are hazardous, said William Sanders, director of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. But little information exists on the levels of industrial waste in commercial fertilizers, Sanders added. —CATHERINE M. C00NEY
4 6 0 A • VOL. 31, NO. 10, 1997 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / NEWS
