Assessing the Risks of Tire Assessing the Risks of Tire Burning on Human HealthBurning on Human Health

Andrew Mahon, Neale Mahoney, Andrew Mahon, Neale Mahoney, Adrienne Moretti, Shane Murphy, Adrienne Moretti, Shane Murphy,

Blake RainvilleBlake Rainville

LocationLocation

ProblemProblem The combustion of tires could potentially The combustion of tires could potentially

release levels of fine particulates which release levels of fine particulates which could adversely affect human healthcould adversely affect human health

BackgroundBackground International Paper Company hopes to International Paper Company hopes to

utilize scrap tires as an additional fuel utilize scrap tires as an additional fuel sourcesource

IPC plans to burn 3 tons/hourIPC plans to burn 3 tons/hour IPC’s current permit IPC’s current permit

(Title V permit) requires (Title V permit) requires

2-week test period2-week test period

BackgroundBackground Local citizens are concerned that emissions Local citizens are concerned that emissions

could reach toxic levels and have could reach toxic levels and have harmful harmful affectsaffects

Vermont has filed suit against IPC to ensure Vermont has filed suit against IPC to ensure a full environmental review is a full environmental review is

completedcompleted

GoalGoal To ensure that, if tire burning takes place To ensure that, if tire burning takes place

at IPC, necessary actions are taken to at IPC, necessary actions are taken to reduce risks to human healthreduce risks to human health

ObjectivesObjectives To determine recognized acceptable To determine recognized acceptable

concentrations of particulate matter in concentrations of particulate matter in emissionsemissions

To evaluate human health risks To evaluate human health risks associated associated with fine particulate matter with fine particulate matter emitted emitted during during tire combustiontire combustion

To evaluate mechanisms that could be To evaluate mechanisms that could be implemented to reach LOAELimplemented to reach LOAEL

To make recommendations on how IPC To make recommendations on how IPC should proceed with tire burningshould proceed with tire burning

Burn RubberBurn Rubber Tires composed of petroleum-based Tires composed of petroleum-based

productsproducts Incomplete combustion produces Incomplete combustion produces

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which condense from gaseous form to which condense from gaseous form to become ultra-fine PMbecome ultra-fine PM

The PAH particulate The PAH particulate

matter is hydrophobicmatter is hydrophobic

Particulate MatterParticulate Matter Particulate matter consists of different Particulate matter consists of different

substances suspended in the air in the substances suspended in the air in the form of particlesform of particles

PM size classifications:PM size classifications:• PM10PM10• PM 2.5PM 2.5• Ultra-fine Ultra-fine

Particulate Matter and Particulate Matter and Health RisksHealth Risks

PM 2.5 poses most serious known health risksPM 2.5 poses most serious known health risks When inhaled, can become lodged deep into the When inhaled, can become lodged deep into the

lungslungs Chronic exposure canChronic exposure can

cause respiratory cause respiratory

problems, lung disease, problems, lung disease,

and cardiovascular and cardiovascular

complications complications

National Ambient Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particle PollutionStandards for Particle Pollution

Pollutant Primary Stds. Averaging Times

Particulate Matter (PM10)

50 ug/m3 Annual (Arith. Mean)

  150 ug/m3 24-hour

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5)

15 ug/m3 Annual (Arith. Mean)

  65 ug/m3 24-hour

Thar She BlowsThar She Blows

(Revised Title V Permit, ENSR Corp., 2005)

ISCST3 Modeling ResultsISCST3 Modeling ResultsModels show no Models show no

significant human significant human health risks from health risks from short-term exposureshort-term exposure

Models do not take Models do not take PM 2.5 or ultra fine PM 2.5 or ultra fine matter into accountmatter into account

Size Does MatterSize Does Matter PM is only measured by massPM is only measured by mass Recently the EPA found importance in Recently the EPA found importance in

measuring particulate sizemeasuring particulate size Particulate size most important factor in Particulate size most important factor in

selecting scrubbersselecting scrubbers

Scrubber TechnologyScrubber Technology IPC currently uses wet scrubber to reduce IPC currently uses wet scrubber to reduce

large PM (PM10)large PM (PM10) Wet scrubbers do not remove PM 2.5 or Wet scrubbers do not remove PM 2.5 or

smallersmaller PAH’s are hydrophobic, so wet scrubbers PAH’s are hydrophobic, so wet scrubbers

will not be effectivewill not be effective

RecommendationsRecommendations

More thorough modeling/testing, including More thorough modeling/testing, including ultra-fine particulate matterultra-fine particulate matter

Run modeling/testing for longer periods of Run modeling/testing for longer periods of time to determine long-term effects on time to determine long-term effects on human healthhuman health

During two-week test, quantify fine/ultra-During two-week test, quantify fine/ultra-fine PM emitted to properly assess fine PM emitted to properly assess

risksrisks

Questions???Questions???Nothing difficult, please.Nothing difficult, please.