The decade of the 1980s saw tremendous growth in the U.S. solid waste incineration industry. In 1980, the U.S. was burning only 1.8% of its solid waste but by 1990 that number had grown 8-fold to 15.2%.[1,pg.4] Despite this surge of growth, by 1990 the incineration industry was stalled, its future in doubt. Grass-roots anti-incinerator activism had taken hold.

In 1990, 140 incinerators were operating in the U.S. with a total capacity of 92,000 tons per day but a more revealing fact is this one: between 1982 and 1990, 248 incinerator projects (with a combined capacity of 114,000 tons per day) were canceled.[1,pgs.4,215] As the '90s unfolded, prospects for the incineration industry continued to fade as more projects were canceled. Some operating incinerators were prematurely shut down, such as the one at Glen Cove, Long Island, which closed in 1991 after only 8 years of service.[2]

In 1990, U.S. EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] estimated that by the year 2000 the U.S. would be incinerating 26% of its solid waste, but by 1992 EPA had lowered that estimate to 21%.[1,pg.5] Now even that reduced estimate seems overly optimistic. Grass-roots activism at the local level has brought growth in the incinerator industry to a crawl.

The key concern among grass-roots activists is health. Incinerators release carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and toxic chemicals from their smoke stacks, including heavy metals (such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and beryllium); acid gases, including hydrogen fluoride;[1,pg.11] partially-burned organic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), herbicide residues, and wood preservatives; other organic chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); and dioxins and furans.[3] One recent analysis identified 192 volatile organic compounds being emitted by a solid waste incinerator.[4]

Several PAHs and dioxins and furans are known or suspected human carcinogens. Dioxins were named as "known" human carcinogens by the World Health Organization in 1997.[5]

Now a series of reports from around the world have cast even more doubt on the safety of solid waste incineration, further dimming the industry's prospects in the U.S.

Britain

People who live within 7.5 kilometers (4.6 miles) of a municipal solid waste incinerator have an increased likelihood of getting several different cancers, according to a 1996 study of 14 million people living near 72 incinerators in Britain.[6]

The British study was conducted in two stages. In stage 1, 20 incinerators were selected randomly for study. Some 3.3 million people lived within 7.5 km of these incinerators and their cancer history was examined. Statistically significant increases were found for all cancers combined; stomach cancer; cancers of the colon and rectum; liver cancer; cancer of the larynx; lung cancer; bladder cancer; and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Among people living within 3 kilometers (2 miles) of an incinerator, cancers of the lymph system and leukemias were significantly elevated, but cancers of the larynx were not.

The second stage of the study examined the cancer history of 11.4 million people living within 7.5 km of any of 52 incinerators. Among these people, there were statistically significant increases in all cancers; stomach cancer; cancer of the colon and rectum; liver cancer; lung cancer; and bladder cancer.

This is the first study to examine the cancer hazards of municipal solid waste incinerators among the general population. The researchers point out that their study cannot demonstrate cause-and-effect because there was no measurement of exposure of the populations living near the incinerators. The authors did take into account confounding factors, such as the effects of poverty ("deprivation" is the term they use), but the relationship between incinerators and cancer remained strong, providing real cause for concern among people who live within 5 miles of a solid waste burner.

France

According to Paul Connett, chemistry professor at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., three French solid waste incinerators were closed in January of this year because milk from cows on nearby dairy farms was found contaminated with excessive levels of dioxins. Dioxins are a toxic family of unwanted byproducts of incineration.[7]

According to the Guardian (London) September 16, 1997, dioxin was found late last summer in French cheeses and butter at levels exceeding safety standards set by the Council of Europe.

And March 11, 1998, a private organization in France, the National Center for Independent Information on Waste (E-mail: toxoid@club- internet.fr), revealed that a municipal incinerator near Maubeuge in northern France, has contaminated cows' milk at levels of 22 parts per trillion (ppt) in milk fat. Staff members at the National Center say they believe this is the highest dioxin level ever measured in milk in France and they are calling for a moratorium on the construction of new incinerators. France has announced plans to build 100 new solid waste incinerators by the year 2002.[7]

Japan

The NEW YORK TIMES reported April 27, 1997 (pg. 10) that dioxins from trash incinerators have become an important public issue in Japan, which has 1850 operating incinerators. The TIMES says that, in neighborhoods downwind from incinerators, independent scientists have reported infant deaths 40% to 70% higher than average. These claims have not been verified.

Even the U.S. Navy is complaining publicly that the U.S. base at Atsugi is being dangerously contaminated by a nearby garbage incinerator. More than 6600 Americans live within a kilometer (0.6 miles) of the incinerator. Rear Admiral Michael Haskins, the Navy's top commander in Japan, recently wrote Japanese officials saying, "People who reside or work at... Atsugi are breathing the poorest and the worst dioxin- polluted air in Japan" and "suffer damage to their health every day." Admiral Haskins told the INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE "The incinerator is my number one priority in Japan."[8]