Studies of pollution risks of 1,4-dioxane in the drainage systems of research institutions such as a college and in the exhaust gas from an industrial waste incineration treatment facility

Abstract

1,4-dioxane in drainage samples from educational research institutions, such as a college, was quantified by a highly sensitive analysis method using Headspace-GC/MS (determination limit of 0.5 µg/L), which is sufficient for ignoring the influence of coexisting substances. The pollution risk of 1,4-dioxane in drainage systems, resulting from direct use or from reagents and detergents containing 1,4-dioxane, was investigated. The results showed that 1,4-dioxane concentrations in the examined reagents were below the permissible limits, and thus the pollution risk was confirmed to be low. Furthermore, there may be cases where the concentrations of 1,4-dioxane in treated waters are higher than those in original wastewaters containing heavy-metals, so contamination or generation of 1,4-dioxane may occur during the treatment process in university. In addition, the generation of 1,4-dioxane in exhaust gas through a lime coating bag filter in an industrial waste incineration treatment facility was confirmed. The source of 1,4-dioxane may be ethyleneglycol or polyethyleneglycol contained in the used lime.