Chlorine emissions from a medical waste incinerator

Chloride/chlorine emissions from a hospital's medical waste incinerator were quantified in conjunction with a particulate emission stack test. Chlorine emissions averaged 100.5 mg/m3 with a standard deviation of 72 mg/m3 for five sample runs. It was estimated that the plastic content of the waste burned varied up to about 30%. Since, in general, emission standards for chlorine from medical waste incinerators do not exist, a simple diffusion model technique is suggested to estimate a safe distance to locate a medical waste incinerator from occupied buildings.