Project 7
Remediation and Health Effects

Ian M. Kennedy, Project Leader
Cort Anastasio, Senior Investigator

Thermal remediation can be an effective way of handling hazardous waste that is found in Superfund sites. Despite success in using this technology, public concern persists over the hazards of byproducts. This project examines the potential for health effects of incineration byproducts by working in conjunction with the biomarker projects within the UC Davis Superfund program. Simple well-defined laboratory flames are used to generate a series of aerosol particles that may contain transition metals such as chromium and iron, and may also be seeded with chlorine. The presence of chlorine can lead to the formation of chlorinated dioxins. A molecular beam sampling technique will explore the detailed reactions within these systems as metals are added to the flow. The potential for metals to catalyze reactions with PAH and other toxic species will be examined. Samples of combustion-generated aerosols will be analyzed using cell cultures and gene microarray technologies. Atmospheric transformation of particles between the source of the emission and exposed populations can change the toxicity of byproducts. We shall simulate the atmospheric reactions in a chamber in which ultraviolet light and reactive gaseous species are allowed to interact with our aerosol samples. We shall look for the production of OH in simulated lung fluid that is exposed to our fresh and atmospherically aged aerosol particles. We shall also evaluate changes in toxicity due to atmospheric aging by working with the biomarker projects within the program. Finally, we intend to investigate the possibility of a novel technology for waste treatment that involves microwave plasmas. We will use our molecular beam sampling and mass spectrometer system to study the kinetics and the potential for toxic by-products during microwave plasma treatment of organic and chlorinated organic compounds.


I. Particulate organic and metal emissions from thermal remediation processes

II. Assess the impact of particle composition and atmospheric chemistry on particle toxicity using in vitro and in vivo assays in collaboration with Projects 3, 4, 5 and Core C