New design criteria for biostabilization plants based on an unconventional parameter

Mechanical-biological treatments represent a source of polichlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). To assess the effectiveness of the removal technologies applied to these kind of plant, dispersion simulations were performed by means of the AERMOD Gaussian model and the impact of the atmospheric deposition to soil was assessed. For this study, a flat area characterized by the absence of strong winds was chosen. Unconventional parameters were adopted to relate the deposition calculated to the impact of the plant in terms of cancer risk. As a result of the simulations, the adoption of the biofilter, whether located at ground level or at the roof of a biostabilization plant, does not offer an appropriate solution from the point of view of the health risk. On the other hand, this methodology highlighted the positive role of the RTO technology in terms of reduction of the impacts.