Portuguese inventory of dioxins and furans atmospheric emissions

This article presents the results of the most recent estimation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) atmospheric emissions in Portugal, which has covered the period 2004-2009 and includes 27 emission sources types. The results are compared with previous emissions inventories published for Portugal. The main objective of this work is to provide relevant information about the amounts of the compounds that are released into the atmosphere in Portugal, and identify their major sources and trends. The methodology involved the identification of relevant sources, the collection of information to characterize these sources, the selection of appropriate emission factors and their application to estimate the emissions. Furthermore, several studies conducted in Portugal were considered, namely reports from PCDD/PCDF measurements performed in some industrial facilities. The inventory covered 27 emission sources types. However the results show that only 8 were relevant, i.e. with emission amounts greater than 1 g I-TEQ year(-1). The total emissions of PCDD/PCDF in Portugal reached between 40 and 105 g I-TEQ year(-1), for the period of 2004-2009. The largest emission source and at same time with greater variation is forest fires, with emissions between 3 g I-TEQ year(-1) and 67 g I-TEQ year(-1) in 2008 and 2005, respectively. Excluding the emissions from forest fires, the total emission is more or less constant over the years and around 37 g I-TEQ year(-1).