M.S. Thesis: Substance and Perceptions of Environmental Impacts of Dioxin Emissions
By Panagiotis G. Deriziotis
Advisor: Professor Nickolas J. Themelis
Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering
Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science
Columbia University
May 2004
The emission of dioxins is perceived widely as a major environmental impact of combustion processes. This paper reports the results of an extensive study of published data on a) the physical and chemical properties of dioxins and their environmental transport mechanisms; b) the measured impacts of dioxin emissions on the environment and on public health.; c) the rate of formation of dioxins from all U.S. and international sources; d) how the contribution of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants has changed with time; and e) the preMACT and post-MACT performance of individual Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants in the U.S.