256
J. R. S. Selvan Christyraj et al.
Environment Pollution and Public Health Defects
During combustion process, incinerators liberates smoke into the atmosphere. The
evolved smoke produces many toxic pollutants which includes particulates, dioxin,
heavy metals, furans, acid gases and nitrogen oxide. These gases are poisonous
to the living systems. Long term exposure to these gases may affect the human
public health. The people around the incineration plant area will have serious health
defects such as birth defects, cancers, reproductive and neurological dysfunctions.
An improved technology should focus and encourage about recycling and waste
generation process. Whereas, this incineration process does not promote those two
factors. Even though the resultant ash content from the incinerated process is very
minimum, it requires proper treatment and disposal as it comprises of many toxic
which can harm the public health and environmental impact.
10.5.3 Operating and Emission Standards of Incineration
Biomedical waste management rules formulated in 2016 has a detailed explanation
on the operation and emission standards of incineration.
Operation Standards of Incineration
Effective incinerator should possess a combustion efficiency (CE) of atleast 99%.
The primary and the secondary chamber of the incinerator should be maintained at
a temperature of 800 °C and a minimum to maximum level of 50–1050 °C. The gas
residence time in the secondary chamber should be atleast two seconds. Combustion
Efficiency can be calculated using the given equation as
CE = …….% of CO 2 / ….. % of CO 2 + …….% of CO × 100.
The minimum stack height of the incinerator should be 30 m from the ground and
the stacks should be fitted with appropriate accessories to have effective incineration
process. Preferably, fuels containing low sulfur content like light diesel, sulphur
heavy stock, diesel or compressed nitrogen gas, liquid natural gas or liquid petroleum
gas can be utilized for incineration in order to have control over emission of toxic
gases. Efficient incinerator should produce permissible Total Oxygen Content (TOC)
in slag and bottom ashes less than 3% or the loss on ignition should be <5%.
Emission standards of the Incinerator
The incinerator should withhold the emission standards according to the BMWM
rules. The limiting concentration of emission after incineration process has to be
in the limited or permissible level. The incinerator emissions should correlate well
with the standard values given in the BMWM rules. The standard emission levels of
various components are given as follows in Table 10.2.
The wastes generated after the incineration process has to be treated in compilation
with standard emission levels of different gases. It should not be treated with chemical
disinfectants, e.g. chlorinated products. Ash generated from the incinerator has to
J. R. S. Selvan Christyraj et al.
Environment Pollution and Public Health Defects
During combustion process, incinerators liberates smoke into the atmosphere. The
evolved smoke produces many toxic pollutants which includes particulates, dioxin,
heavy metals, furans, acid gases and nitrogen oxide. These gases are poisonous
to the living systems. Long term exposure to these gases may affect the human
public health. The people around the incineration plant area will have serious health
defects such as birth defects, cancers, reproductive and neurological dysfunctions.
An improved technology should focus and encourage about recycling and waste
generation process. Whereas, this incineration process does not promote those two
factors. Even though the resultant ash content from the incinerated process is very
minimum, it requires proper treatment and disposal as it comprises of many toxic
which can harm the public health and environmental impact.
10.5.3 Operating and Emission Standards of Incineration
Biomedical waste management rules formulated in 2016 has a detailed explanation
on the operation and emission standards of incineration.
Operation Standards of Incineration
Effective incinerator should possess a combustion efficiency (CE) of atleast 99%.
The primary and the secondary chamber of the incinerator should be maintained at
a temperature of 800 °C and a minimum to maximum level of 50–1050 °C. The gas
residence time in the secondary chamber should be atleast two seconds. Combustion
Efficiency can be calculated using the given equation as
CE = …….% of CO 2 / ….. % of CO 2 + …….% of CO × 100.
The minimum stack height of the incinerator should be 30 m from the ground and
the stacks should be fitted with appropriate accessories to have effective incineration
process. Preferably, fuels containing low sulfur content like light diesel, sulphur
heavy stock, diesel or compressed nitrogen gas, liquid natural gas or liquid petroleum
gas can be utilized for incineration in order to have control over emission of toxic
gases. Efficient incinerator should produce permissible Total Oxygen Content (TOC)
in slag and bottom ashes less than 3% or the loss on ignition should be <5%.
Emission standards of the Incinerator
The incinerator should withhold the emission standards according to the BMWM
rules. The limiting concentration of emission after incineration process has to be
in the limited or permissible level. The incinerator emissions should correlate well
with the standard values given in the BMWM rules. The standard emission levels of
various components are given as follows in Table 10.2.
The wastes generated after the incineration process has to be treated in compilation
with standard emission levels of different gases. It should not be treated with chemical
disinfectants, e.g. chlorinated products. Ash generated from the incinerator has to