Sampling,occurrence and evaluation of PCDDs and PCDFs from incinerated solid urban waste

The sampling procedure of solid and gaseous pollutants, contained in flue gas emitted into the atmosphere by solid waste incinerating furnaces were investigated. Because of their extraordinary toxicological properties, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are taken into particular consideration. The analytical work is based on the use of high-resolution gas chromatography in combination with low-resolution mass spectrometry. Details of the extensive sample clean-up will follow the GC-MS separation and identification of the isomers detected for each group of PCDDs and PCDFs. Quantitative data of these pollutants distribution levels deriving from different investigated incinerators are also reported.