Dioxin Emissions &omEDCNCM Plants T
he total global discharge of dioxins from the production of ethylene dichloride (EDC) and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)-used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-is 1.8 kg per year, according to a report from the environmentalist group Greenpeace. European PVC makers dispute this, and estimate global emissions from EDCIVCM production at only 0.002-0.09 kg annually. The report summarizes nine case studies of emissions, measured as 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents (TEQ), at four EDCIVCM facilities in Norway, Sweden, Holland, and Germany, as well as a Dutch laboratory study. It estimates that if present in food, the 1.8 kg of TEQ emitted globally would give 8.1 billion people the annual tolerable intake determined by the World Health Organization (10 pglkg body weight per day, or 219 ng per year for individuals weighing 60 kg). Although the report does not review health and environmental effects studies in detail, it concludes that “the available data suggest that the production of EDCIVCM is a huge source of highly dangerous organochlorines and poses a threat to the environment, wildlife, and humans.” Greenpeace calls on governments to take the following steps: investigate organochlorine emissions from PVC plants; inform communities near the EDCIVCM factories of the “potential serious public health threat”; halt any expansion of EDCIVCMI PVC production: and plan to phase out processes and products that generate organochlorines. In response, the Euro Chlor Federation, which represents the chlorine industry in Europe, says “Claims that PVC production leads to harmful levels of dioxins and organochlorines are both alarmist and misleading.” It points out that dioxins are formed in combustion processes including bonfires, cigarette smoke, and vehicle exhausts, in addition to natural production by a va1014 Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 27, No. 6, 1993
BY ANDREW MILLER riety of plants and microorganisms. The industry is committed, Euro Chlor states, to keeping emissions within statutory limits, which in many cases are “well below” natural environmental levels. The four sites included in the Greenpeace report are: Akzo’s plant on the Rhine River near Rotterdam; Solvay’s plant at Rheinberg, Germany, also on the Rhine; and two Norsk Hydro sites at Rafnes in Norway and Stenungsund in Sweden. In Akzo’s case, the report cites a 1988 study of organochlorine isomers and congeners in Rhine sediments by University of Amsterdam scientists, who determined that contamination did not come from incineration but from an unknown industrial source. The Greenpeace report quotes the study’s conclusion that “Special attention should be paid to the effluent from the VCM industry located at Rhine kilometer 669,” and says this is the location of Akzo’s Rotterdam plant. Akzo spokesperson Rob de Vries points out that kilometer 669 is actually just west of Koln, Germany. He says a biological waste water treatment unit at Akzo’s site built in 1987 has reduced TEQ emissions into the river to 0.001 g per year, and atmospheric emissions from the plant are 0.06 g per year (including the byproduct incinerator). Greenpeace also cites a lab study of the oxychlorination of ethylene dichloride by the same University of Amsterdam group, which found that this reaction produces 419 g TEQ per 100,000 tons of EDC. Akzo’s de Vries says this is 400 times greater than what happens in practice in Akzo’s plant. He says Akzo is in contact with the university scientists, but doesn’t understand why they did not want to use the company’s data. For Solvay, Greenpeace cites a 1988 study by a Dutch environmental group, which found that dioxin levels in the Rhine rose from 0.37 ng
TEQIL upstream of the Rheinberg plant discharge point to 6.47 ng TEQIL downstream. A study in 1990 is also cited, which found that water discharges from the plant contained 0.07-0.19 ng TEQIL, equal to 3-8 g TEQ per year. This work found that octachlorodibenzofurans (OCDFs) were the main component of the discharge, according to the Greenpeace report. In response, Jean-Marie Chandelle, a Solvay spokesperson, says Greenpeace makes no distinction between the most toxic “Sevesotype” dioxins and the other 210 dioxin congeners that are regarded as nontoxic. The former are not emitted from Solvay’s plant, he says, and the OCDFs are insoluble in water, rapidly photodegrade, and are not a danger to health. Furthermore, at the beginning of April this year the company began operating a flocculation unit to reduce OCDF emissions in the effluent, though it is “too early” to give performance data, Chandelle says. Norsk Hydro’s two sites at Rafnes and Stenungsund are the subject of the remaining six case studies in the Greenpeace report, on dioxin creation during oxychlorination, diffuse gas emissions of ethylene chloride, EDC and VCM, dioxin levels in production byproducts (later incinerated), an AOX test of wastewater from the Rafnes plant, and a study of dioxins and furans in marine sediments off the Swedish coast (in which the highest levels were found near Stenungsund). The company says the basic data in the report are essentially correct, but rejects the assumptions used to estimate dioxin emissions from the Rafnes plant. Greenpeace, using two different assumptions, estimates atmospheric releases of dioxins in diffuse gas emissions from Rafnes at 74 g or 9 g TEQ annually. Helge Stiksrud, a Norsk Hydro spokesperson, says several analyses have shown that such emissions are less than 200 mg TEQ per year. He says total emissions from the plant,
0013-936X/93/0927-1014$04.00/0 0 1993 American Chemical Society
which has a VCM production capacity of 425,000 tons per year, are under 0.5 g TEQ annually. Nevertheless, based on the nine case studies, Greenpeace concludes that at least 5-10 g TEQ per 100,000 tons VCM production are discharged to the air, water, and ground. With world PVC (and thus VCM) production of 18 million metric tons annually, this equals 0.9-1.8 kg TEQ emitted globally. However, one industry scientist, preparing a response to the report by European PVC companies, says industry data indicate that only 0.01-0.5 g TEQ is e m i t t e d per 100,000 tons VCM produced. Meanwhile, he notes, municipal waste incineration releases 70 g TEQ per 100,000 tons incinerated (20g to air, 50 g to ash), and 100 times more waste is incinerated globally than VCM is produced. The report, “Dioxin Factories: A Study of the Creation and Discharge of Dioxins and Other Organochlorines from the Production of PVC,” is available from Greenpeace International, Keizersgracht 176,1016 DW Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Homogeneous mnsition Reactions
-
T
his new volume presents a comprehensive review of the most modern aspects of homogeneous catalysis, offering a balanced mix of theory and practice. Its 41 chapters are divided into six sections covering spectroscopy and mechanism assymetric induction C-H activation 0 carbonylation and synthesis gas conversion general functionalization oligomerization and polymerization Also of interest is an examination of new techniques for in situ reaction monitoring. Homogeneous Transition Metal Catalyzed Reactions is valuable reading for catalysis scientists:organic, inorganic, and organometallic chemists: biocataiysis scientists:fine chemicals researchers: and pharmaceutical scientists. William R. Moser, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Editor Donald W. Slocum, Western Kentucky University, Editor Advances in Chemistry Series No. 230 650 pages (1992) Clothbound ISBN 0-8412-2007-7
$139.95
Andrew Miller is editor of the science and business magazine Chemistry & Industry, based in London, England.
AN AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL
Where YW Can Learn More About What’s New in the Chemistry of Non-Nuclear Energy Sources Each bimonthly issue brings you reports on the latest research on nonnuclear energy sources: petroleum, coal, shale oil, tar sands, biomass, synfuels, C, chemistry, organic geochemistry, applied catalysis, and combustion. Under the leadership of Editor John W. Larsen of Lehigh University and Associate Editor Michael T. Klein of the University of Delaware, ENERGY & FUELS keeps you current on the latest news in the transformation, utilization, formation, and production of fossil fuels. Plus, in each issue you’ll find thought-provoking communicatlons, book reviews, and guest feature essays by major figures in the field on non-nuclear bels. To subscribe, write: American Chemical Society, Member and Subscriber Services, P.O. Box 3337, Columbus, OH 43210. Or, call toll-free in the U.S. 1-800-333-9511and charge your order. Outside the U.S. call 614-447-3776; or fax your order on 614-447-3671.
ACSMEMBERS NON-MEMBERS
US.
Canada &Mexico
1YR
$ 48
$ 56
2YRS
$ 86
$102
1YFi
$345
$353
For information on composition and submission of manuscripts, write: John Larsen, Editor, Energy & Fuels, Department of Chemistry, 6 East Packer Avenue, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, U.S.A. or Telephone 215-7583489. This publication i s aiailable o n microfilm, micrc~tichc,and onlitic through CJO on
STN Inrunational.
American Chemical Society 1155 Sixteenth St., NW Washington, D.C. 20036 ~~
Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 27, No. 6, 1993 1015
