Greenpeace: Incineration and Human Health

State of Knowledge of the Impacts of Waste Incinerators on Human Health.
Michelle Allsopp, Pat Costner and Paul Johnston
Greenpeace Research Laboratories,
University of Exeter, UK.

Experimental data confirm that incinerators release toxic substances and that humans are exposed as a consequence. Studies on workers at incinerator plants, and populations residing near to incinerators, have identified a wide range of associated health impacts (see tables below). These studies give rise to great concerns about possible health impacts from incinerators even though the number of studies (particularly those that
have been conducted to appropriately rigorous scientific standards) is highly limited. These should be seen, however, as strongly indicative that incinerators are potentially very damaging to human health.