HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
of INCINERATORS
Health Effects from Living Near
an Incinerator: Review &
Bibliography
A UK study found that there
was an increased risk of lethal congenital anomaly such as spina
bifida and heart defects for women living near incinerators(72a). Two other
studies (72bc) showed a
significant increase in the risk of sarcoma, correlated both with the level and
the length of environmental modeled exposure to dioxin-like substances. The
risk excess is also evident in females, and, for both sexes taken together, for
cancers of the connective and other soft tissue. Another study found that
exposure to high levels of dioxin was correlated to significantly lower boy to
girl birth ratio (72d). An ATSDR investigation found an increased pattern of respiratory
problems in community residents living near an incinerator(72e).
In addition, residents complained about irritation of the airways and poor
motor coordination. Another study’s
results indicated a significantly increased risk of mortality among women
living in the vicinity of the incinerators compared with those living far away,
for all causes, colon and breast cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases(72f).
(72) (a) Adverse pregnancy
outcomes around incinerators and crematoriums in Cumbria,
north west England, 1956–93 ; T J B Dummer, H O
Dickinson, L Parker; J Epidemiol Community Health 2003;57:456-461; &
(b) Sarcoma risk and
dioxin emissions from incinerators and industrial plants: a population-based
case-control study (Italy), P. Zambon et al, Environmental
Health 2007, 6:19, http://www.ehjournal.net/content/6/1/19;
& (c ) Risk of soft tissue
sarcomas and residence in the neighbourhood of an
incinerator of industrial wastes, P. Comba et al, Occup
Environ Med 2003;60:680-683; & (d) Birth Sex Ratio and Dioxin
exposure, P. Mocarelli et al, The Lancet, May, 2000;
(e) & Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. DOH, 1994, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/testimony/testimony-1994-07-08.html
; & (f) Incinerator and Spatial Exposure
Distribution: An Example of Small Area Study in Italy, A Ranzi
et al, Epidemiology: November 2006 - Volume
17 - Issue 6 - pp S114-S115
****************************************************
The Health Effects of Waste Incinerators: 4th Report of the British
Society for Ecological Medicine, Second Edition 6/08
www.ecomed.org.uk/content/IncineratorReport_v3.pdf
>
Incineration and Links to Cancer - Prevent Cancer Now 1/09
http://preventcancernow.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pcn-incin21.pdf
>
Health Effects of Incineration - Prevent Cancer Now 1/09
http://preventcancernow.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pcn-incin4.pdf
>
Incinerators Trash Community Health - Global Alliance for Incinerator
Alternatives (GAIA) 6/08
www.no-burn.org/downloads/Incinerators%20Trash%20Community%20Health.pdf
>
Irish Doctors Environmental Association: Incinerators and their Health Effects
6/15/06
www.ideaireland.org/incineratorsandhealth.htm
>
Incineration of Municipal Solid Waste: An Update on Pollution -
Pembina Institute in collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation,
Sierra Legal, Toronto Environmental Alliance, Canadian Environmental
Law Association and Great Lakes United 5/07
www.pembina.org/pub/1450
>
Can Chemicals Be Regulated? - Peter Montague - Rachel's Democracy & Health
News #993 1/8/09
www.precaution.org/lib/09/prn_new_problems.090108.htm
>
Section on "Synergistic Effects" in "The Health Effects of Waste
Incinerators: 4th Report of the British Society for Ecological Medicine, Second
Edition" 6/08
www.ecomed.org.uk/content/IncineratorReport_v3.pdf
>
Incinerators Trash Community Health - Global Alliance for Incinerator
Alternatives (GAIA) 6/08
www.no-burn.org/downloads/Incinerators%20Trash%20Community%20Health.pdf
>
The Deadliest Air Pollution Isn't Being Regulated or Even Measured - Peter
Montague - Rachel's Democracy & Health News #915 7/12/07
www.precaution.org/lib/07/ht070712.htm#The_Deadliest_Air_Pollution_Isnt_Being_Regulated_or_Even_Measured
Waste to Energy Plants
Attempts to peddle "waste to energy" haven't
gained wide acceptance around the world because
people are aware that incineration:
1. Remains a serious threat to public health <http://www.cawdrec.com/incineration/CVH.pdf>. Burning
garbage is a primary source of cancer-causing dioxins and other pollutants
including toxic metals that enter
the food supply and water supply and concentrate up through the food chain.
2. Produces more carbon dioxide per unit of electricity than coal
power. Current atmospheric carbon loads cannot safely bear additional
emissions from incinerators and landfills
<http://no-burn.org/article.php?id=339>.
3. Incinerator Ash contains large
amounts of toxic metals and other toxics
Footnotes:
1. According to Eurostat in 2007, Denmark produces
the highest waste per capita (over 1762 lbs. per person each year) in the EU
-
clearly an unsustainable level of waste generation. Additionally, over
80 % of what is burned in Danish incinerators is recyclable/compostable.
2. State of the art incineration plants in Denmark achieve only 25% energy
efficiency with heat and power
Ananda Lee Tan, North American Program Coordinator
Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
1958 University Avenue,
Berkeley, Ca 94703
Phone: +1 510 883 9490 Ext 102
Email: ananda@no-burn.org
Website: www.no-burn.org
As part of their marketing, incinerator lobby groups have
even recruited
the same "expert" witnesses that once testified for the tobacco
industry
<http://www.no-burn.org/article.php?id=832>.
Fortunately, citizen
groups today are not easily deceived by
such masquerades and are
familiar with real solutions.
Health Effects of Crematoria Emissions
Adverse pregnancy outcomes around incinerators and
crematoriums in Cumbria, north west England, 1956–93
; T J B Dummer, H O Dickinson, L Parker; J Epidemiol Community Health 2003;57:456-461
Mercury
Emissions
Reference: http://www.ejnet.org/crematoria/
