Abstract
Energy Recovery Facility Kawaguchi, equipped with waste-to-energy facility, has been operating in Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture since 2018. However, after operating this facility, potential impact on crops and human health have been concerned. Therefore, in this study, 33 elements in inorganic samples from the surrounding environment were analyzed for evaluating the effect of waste processing. As a result, the enrichment factors (EF values) for Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb were at levels indicating “strong anthropogenic contamination”. Furthermore, diffusion eastward from the facility, particularly at points 1.7 km to 3.0 km away, suggested the formation of hotspots. These results were attributed to the prevailing westerly winds in the study area and the influence of downdraft transport due to the surrounding mountains. Additionally, for As, Hg, and Pb, EF values showed a distance-dependent attenuation trend, decreasing with linear distance from the facility. The trends in these potentially problematic elements and their dispersion patterns resemble chemical contamination observed around similar facilities in Europe. The facility’s operation may be a contributing factor to trace element loading in the surrounding environment. Continued investigation is necessary to achieve the appropriate and safe operation of the waste-to-energy facility and the preservation of the environment.
