Dispersion studies on a solid waste refuse incinerator

The dispersion of the emissions of a municipal solid waste incinerator in eastern Helsinki has been studied by analysing birch leaf (Betula pubescent) and grass (mainly couch‐grass, Elymys repens) samples collected from the neighbourhood of the incinerator. The elemental concentrations of 17 elements were analyzed by the PIXE method. The incinerator was closed down in March 1983 because of the then measured high emissions. In the birch leaf samples collected in September 1982 (before the shut‐down) elemental concentrations of 11 elements varied strongly as a function of distance from the incinerator. In the respective samples collected in September 1983 (after the shut‐down) no clear distance versus concentration dependence was obtained for any elements.