Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have for the first time
observed photochemical processes inside the smallest particles in the
air. In doing so, they discovered that additional oxygen radicals that
can be harmful to human health are formed in these aerosols under
everyday conditions. They report on their results today in the journal Nature Communications.
Furthermore,
the system in place for monitoring gas emissions and other by-products
(heavy metals?) raises doubts as to whether it can properly monitor
pollutants in real time, and make the data publicly available on a
continuous basis. Cross-contamination of water and the food chain cannot
be excluded, given the limited data. Without this information in place,
how can the Environmental Protection Agency grant an operational
permit? Furthermore, the “Trojan horse” process by which polluters can
apply for incineration licences and return later to apply for
significant increases in gross tonnages, and the right to burn new types
of hazardous waste, effectively allows them to evade scrutiny.
CRH
in Platin was originally granted a licence to incinerate 120,000 tons
of waste. Their latest application would increase this to 600,000, with
significant increases in the proportion of hazardous materials.
Claire Keating, Derek O’Dwyer, Ioannis Zabetakis, Limerick
= = = =
here is the full letter as sent to ST.
Letter to the Editor -Sunday Times
Limerick, 14th July
2020
Dear Sir,
With regard to the report of Colin
Coyle “Meath incinerator seeks to double hazardous waste capacity” Sunday Times
5.7.2020, we would like to highlight the following points:
1.The identity of “hazardous waste” is not fully known at the time of
application for permit.
2.The monitoring system of gas emissions and other by-products (heavy
metals?) that is in place raises some doubts around its efficacy to properly monitor
pollutants in real time and make these data publicly available on a continuous
basis.
3.Possible cross-contamination of water (inland or sea) and the food chain
can not be excluded given the limited data known at the time of application.
Without this information in place, how can EPA grant operational permit?
4.Lastly, there is clear conflict in how incineration (and any other
possibly polluting) processes are monitored across EU. In all member states,
the authority with responsibility for granting the operational permit (license)
is the same authority that monitors the legal operation of the facility.In Ireland’s case, it’s the EPA. This effectively
prevents the EPA from effectively applying “the polluter pays” principle which
dictates that the polluter has to pay the full amount to compensate total
environmental damage (in case, for example, of a possible leak of heavy
metals).
5.Furthermore, the “Trojan Horse” process by which polluters can apply for
incineration licenses and return later to apply for significant increases in
gross tonnages and rights to burn new types of hazardous waste allows polluters
to evade scrutiny and mask legitimate public concerns on their longer-term
intentions. For example, CRH in Platin were originally granted a license to
incinerate 120,000 tonnes of waste. Their latest application would increase
this to 600,000 tonnes per annum with significant increases in the proportion
of hazardous materials.
Sincerely,
Claire Keating,
Derek O’Dwyer
Limerick Against
Pollution, Limerick
and Ioannis
Zabetakis, Lecturer, Univ. of Limerick
P.S. Hong Kong incineration plans blasted by Prof Paul Connett - who advocates Zero Waste
Indaver’s
incinerator in Duleek, Co Meath, which was bitterly opposed by local
residents before it opened in 2011, has applied for permission to
increase the amount of waste it treats from 235,000 to 250,000 tonnes,
more than doubling the amount of hazardous waste from 10,000 tonnes to
25,000 tonnes.
In
documents submitted to An Bord Pleanala as part of the application,
Indaver said: “The amount of hazardous waste accepted has reached over
9,000 tonnes per annum and, in the absence of other suitable treatment
facilities currently in Ireland for these wastes, there is a need to
extend the capacity.”
It
said this increase in capacity would be in line with the EPA’s national
hazardous waste plan, which requires treatment for up to 50,000 tonnes
of hazardous waste in Ireland every year.
The overall increase in waste capacity would allow for the acceptance
of more liquid waste, it said.
Ged
Nash, a local Labour TD, said the plan to more than double the amount
of hazardous waste going into the incinerator was “extremely worrying”.
He said the proposal would be challenged by the local community.
“We
need a national rethink on policy relating to incineration if we are to
meet binding EU targets on recycling,” he said. “Figures published last
year by the European Commission showed that the proportion of household
waste generated since 2008 that was sent to incinerators like
Carranstown [in Duleek] shot up from 16% to 29%, with only a small
increase recorded for recycling.”
Alongside
its increase in capacity, Indaver said it would build an aqueous waste
tank farm to deal with liquid waste and a hydrogen generation unit. This
unit would use the steam that would otherwise be destroyed in the
plant’s air cooled condenser to generate hydrogen from water. The energy
generated could either be fed into the natural gas network or used to
power hydrogen-powered waste vehicles.
The
application also seeks extra storage of bottom ash and an increase in
the size of the plant’s warehouses, workshops, office buildings and
parking facilities. The Belgian-owned company claims these proposals are
in line with EU and national policies. It claims the increase in
hazardous waste capacity “fulfils the objectives of self-sufficiency and
proximity and reduces the reliance on export and associated
environmental benefit of avoiding the transport of hazardous waste over
longer distances through export to Europe”.
This Semester, at UL, the 4th year Food Science and Health students have been working on this project.
Below, there is a sample of some excellent references they used to support their views.
NB: their views are based on Science, no politics, internal contacts or other parameters that can lead to misjudgement!
I am really proud of my students; of all of them! For the high quality of their work and their professionalism! Well done to all of you!
On the particles in the fire gases zinc, nickel and chromium dominate among the metals. Other metals with high yields are lead and barium. Note that this ordering is made only from the yields with no regards to their effect on the environment or health. In the run-off water the metals sodium, calcium, potassium, and zinc were found in highest concentration. Another element found in high concentration was bromine
