Correlation between chemical and olfactometric aspects in treatment plants for dangerous special wastes

The present work analyzes the dispersion of chemical and odorous substances from a treatment plant for special dangerous wastes, with the purpose to mitigate the environmental impacts through directed interventions on the management. This activity has a double purpose: to minimize the chemical and odorous issues, in the full respect of environmental normative, and reduce the risks of health of operators and workers.Through a chemical, olfactometry and modeling analysis it has been therefore possible to hypothesize different scenarios related with the treatment of special dangerous wastes depending on the phases of workmanship and chemical reaction products. Chemical substances analyzed and monitored during this study have been: Total Suspended Particulate (PTS), Particulate Matter PM10 (with analysis for Pb, Cd, Ni and Cu), Ammonia, Sulfuric acid, Odorous substances, BTEX and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Aliphatic Amine. Afterwards it has been possible to search for some correlations between chemical substances emissions and smell, in order to intervene on the treatment plants to mitigate environmental impacts. In addition, we have performed chemical measures on exposed operators in contact with dangerous special wastes, in order to evaluate chemical risks through the application of algorithm CHEOPE.