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Incineration of Different Types ofMedical Wastes: Emission Factorsfor Particulate Matter and HeavyMetals

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Previously published results for emission factors ofmedical waste incineration do not include enough informationabout the incinerated waste composition. This paperreports the first emission factors estimated for particulatematter, As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn, Hg, and Ni, considering thatmedical waste is segregated in different types accordingto Portuguese legislation. The main purpose was to evaluatethe influence of incinerated waste composition andsegregation practice on emission factors. One “controlled-air” incinerator without air pollution control devices wasused for the incineration either of mixtures with a definedcomposition or of a specific waste type. Previouslypublished emission factors are not associated with thecomposition of the incinerated mixture, and the resultsshowed that the usefulness of those emission factors is verydoubtful. The existence of different waste classificationsalso reduces the usefulness of previously published results.To protect human health, appropriate equipment tocontrol atmospheric pollutants must be used, since thelegal limits for pollutant concentrations were stronglysurpassed (226 times higher than the limit for Hg), withrisks for patients and workers of the hospital and exposedpopulation. It was concluded that rigorous segregationpractices and adequate management methodologies allowreducing 80% of the amount of wastes that must beincinerated, practically eliminating Hg and Pb emissionsand reducing those of PM, As, Cd, Cr, Mn, and Ni, respectively,98, 90, 92, 84, 77, and 92%.

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