Characterization of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofuran emissions from joss paper burned in a furnace with air pollution control devices

Burning joss paper, a common practice in temples in some Asian countries, can release toxic pollutants. This study investigated polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) emissions and profiles from burning joss paper in a temple furnace connected to two wet scrubbers. The mean total PCDD/F content and corresponding toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) in joss paper were 193 ng kg^− 1 and 0.645 ng I-TEQ kg^− 1, respectively, whereas those in bottom ash from burned joss paper were 18.5 ng kg^− 1 and 1.92 ng I-TEQ kg^− 1, respectively. The wet scrubbers decreased individual PCDD/F emissions by 26.7-71.0% and those of total PCDD/Fs and I-TEQ by 47.2% and 66.0%, respectively. The total PCDD/F TEQ emission factors before and after the wet scrubbers were 8.14 and 3.42 µg I-TEQ ton-feedstock^− 1, respectively. The estimated total PCDD/F and corresponding TEQ emissions were 5.29 g year^− 1 and 0.462 g I-TEQ year^− 1, respectively, in Taiwan. Burning joss paper in temple furnaces is a significant source of PCDD/F emissions.