Temporal Trends in Metal Concentrations in Soils and Herbage Collected Near a Municipal Waste Incinerator: Human Health Risks

Emissions of metals by municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) are still an issue of concern for the health of residents in the vicinity of these facilities. Since 1991 a MSWI has been operating in Tarragona (Spain). In 1997, a modernization of the flue gas cleaning systems of the MSWI was completed. Since then, periodically soil and herbage samples have been collected near the facility and the concentrations of the following elements determined: As, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Tl, and V. In 2002, a 4-year environmental surveillance program was initiated. The mean concentrations of these elements in various surveys performed between 1997 and 2005, as well as the temporal trends are reported. Human health risks, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic, were also assessed. Risks for adults and children were separately evaluated. Children were chosen because they are one of the most susceptible groups of a population. According to the current results, in principle, no significant health risks for the population living in the neighborhood of the facility can be expected due to metal emissions from the stack. However, a continuous environmental surveillance program is recommended because As levels in soils of Tarragona are slightly higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Preliminary Remediation Goals.