Research on Pollutants from Incinerators (Nylons and Plastics)  

Nylon and Plastics

• (Toxic pollutants) Waste-to-energy plants have the potential to emit low levels of toxic pollutants such as dioxins, acid gases, and heavy metals. Modern plants employ sophisticated scrubbers, precipitators, and filters to capture these compounds 
  • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/03/should-we-burn-plastic-waste/
• (Plastic) The Municipal Solid Waste containing about 12% of plastics is burnt, releasing toxic gases like Dioxins, Furans, Mercury and Polychlorinated Biphenyls into the atmosphere
  • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305892272_Toxic_Pollutants_from_Plastic_Waste-_A_Review
    • This review presents the hazards of incineration; open burning of plastics and effects of plastic in water and also the possibility of working out strategies to develop alternate procedures of plastic waste management.
• (Incineration) Incineration... could pose a serious burden on the human and natural environment if the process is not properly controlled and monitored
  • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329970322_The_Environmental_Impact_of_Plastic_Waste_Incineration
    • We write this study with the purpose of drawing people's attention to the importance of reducing the quantities of plastic waste and thus the environmental impact they cause as well as the human and environmental risks of incineration.
• (Plastics) Plastics studied were polyamide… polyester, synthetic fabrics… nylon.... Wood and wool (5)
  • https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a307864.pdf
    • Generated large numbers of gaseous and condensed products. Additional gaseous products included… hexane… sulfur dioxide… candies… ammonia (5)
    • Nylon on PAGE 124
• (Pollutants) A few of these pollutants such as mercury, PCBs, dioxins and furans persist for long periods of time in the environment and have a tendency to bio-accumulate
  • https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2228-5547-4-34
  • Humans can be exposed indirectly just like wildlife, especially through consumption of contaminated fish, meat and dairy products.
• (Plastics) PVC and halogenated additives are typically present in mixed plastic waste leading to the risk of dioxins, other polychlorinated biphenyls and furans being released into the environment
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873020/#RSTB20080311C20
• (Pollutants) Hazardous waste from various industries may generate toxic gases other than those normally seen in municipal waste incineration plants. Compounds such as mercury, benzene, cyanide, phosgene and other very hazardous gases may additionally have to be monitored in such cases. 
  • https://www.opsis.se/en/Blog/ArticleID/35/Pollutant-Reduction-Control-and-Continuous-Emissions-Monitoring-at-Waste-to-Energy-Plants

Synopsis: Burning plastic in incinerators can/will produce dioxins, furans, acid gases, heavy metals, etc… These products will leak to the environment over time. It looks like the research has shown time and time again that there has been a lot of pushback with burning waste.