A generic comparison of the airborne risks to human health from landfill and incinerator disposal of municipal solid waste

Olga Bridges (), Jim W. Bridges and John F. Potter
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Olga Bridges: University of Surrey, Guildford
Jim W. Bridges: University of Surrey
John F. Potter: University of Surrey

Environment Systems and Decisions, 2000, vol. 20, issue 4, 325-334

Abstract: Abstract A comparison of the potential risks to human health from municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration and landfill on a generic basis is attempted. For this purpose a 'worst case' approach is adopted and a number of assumptions regarding the size and activities of each waste disposal method are made. The airborne pollutants measured for an incinerator are different from those for a landfill with or without gas collection. However, based on the available information it appears that as far as airborne pollution is concerned, landfill sites without gas collection pose a potentially higher generic risk to human health than MSW incinerators performing to Environmental Agency (UK) standards. This analysis cannot be used to replace specific evaluations for a particular incinerator or a landfill site because local conditions can have a very large impact on the magnitude of risks involved.

Keywords: municipal solid waste (MSW); landfill; incineration; toxicity; health risks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1023/A:1006725932558

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