PCDD/PCDF, PCB, and Hexachlorobenzene in soil, bottom ash and products from brickmaking sites in developing countries - Results from surveys in Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa. A contribution to the Standardized Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases in support to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Abstract

The report combines the results from soil sampling campaigns executed in Mexico, South Africa and Kenya in order to assess the impact of artisanal brick making on local environments. Moreover the study serves indirectly (through the comparison of the impact on soils), whether the emission factors for brick kilns obtained in in a separate study in Mexico can be applied to other developing countries. These emission factors will be introduced into the calculation scheme for the National Emission Inventories of unintentional POP's releases ("dioxin toolkit) which is the reporting tool under the reporting obligations laid down in the Stockholm Convention of POPs. Results revealed, that the soils in Mexico are higher contaminated then in South Africa and Kenya, most probably due to the practice of co-incineration of waste (oils), whereas in Africa coal or virgin biomass are used as fuels. In so far the emission factors obtained in Mexico apparently represent the upper range of emission factors for brick making.