Regional air pollution caused by dioxins from numerous emission sources: Lessons from a domestic experience in Japan

In this study, a large-scale field study was performed in order to distinguish between the contribution of the municipal solid waste incinerator and small clustered industrial waste incinerators in Fuchu city. The dioxin concentrations when only the municipal solid waste incinerator was being operated were found to range from 0.047 to 0.090 pg TEQ/m³. The dioxin concentrations when only the clustered small industrial waste incinerators were being operated ranged from 0.085 to 0.25 pg TEQ/m³. The concentrations in ambient air were more strongly affected by the clustered industrial waste incinerators than the municipal solid waste incinerator. Furthermore, the predicted concentrations by an atmospheric dispersion simulation model were consistent with the measured concentrations. From these results, the dioxin concentrations in ambient air were attributed primarily to the clustered small industrial waste incinerators.