EVALUATION OF HEAVY-METALS IN SLAGS FROM MEDICAL WASTE INCINERATOR

The paper discusses the landfilling of solid residues from hospital waste incineration in Italy and its complex legal status (hazardous or nonhazardous). According to current regulations, the parameter to be controlled is the concentration of heavy metals before their final disposal in a landfill. Some results are reported on the heavy metal content in slag samples from a medical solid waste incinerator, analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Their potential toxicity was analyzed with reference to the concentration of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Replicate digestion of a reference material (BCR 176 city waste incineration ash) showed a good degree of accuracy in the determination of all the elements investigated. The obtained results show that the absolute concentration of examined metals in slags is not such as to classify them as toxic and harmful. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.