Long-Term Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Hazardous Waste Incineration: A Case-Study in Catalonia, Spain

Authors

  • Jose L. Domingo

    Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorens 21, 43201 Reus, Spain
  • Joaquim Rovira

    Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorens 21, 43201 Reus, Spain
  • Marta Schuhmacher

    Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i6.9253
Received: 27 March 2025 | Revised: 8 May 2025 | Accepted: 16 May 2025 | Published Online: 10 June 2025

Abstract

This comprehensive review synthesizes findings from the studies conducted for more than two decades to assess environmental and human health impacts near Spain's first hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) located in Constantí (Tarragona, Catalonia). Through integrated analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and metals across soil, vegetation, human tissues, and dietary matrices, the studies have shown: (1) PCDD/F concentrations decreased 75–96% in biological samples and dietary intake over 20 years, aligning with global emission reductions rather than HWI operations; (2) metal trajectories showed arsenic intermittently exceeding carcinogenic thresholds in soils (1.1 × 10-4 risk index) and chromium accumulating in autopsy tissues (+16% in kidney), although without HWI-specific spatial gradients; (3) systemic biomarkers revealed policy-driven declines—blood lead dropped 70% post-EU regulations, while mercury became undetectable in tissues post-2010. Health risk assessments confirmed that PCDD/F intake (0.122 pg WHO-TEQ/kg/day) remained still below WHO thresholds, with no attributable cancer risks for metals except legacy arsenic. The studies included in the program of surveillance show that PCDD/Fs and metals emissions by the HWI have meant a rather low contribution to population exposure to metals and PCDD/Fs compared to dietary and historical sources. However, residual risks warrant attention. It mainly concerns chromium speciation and arsenic in soils, as well as the effects on vulnerable subpopulations and the synergistic effects among toxicants. Epidemiological studies are also required.

Keywords:

Hazardous Waste Incineration; Biomonitoring; Dioxins; Heavy Metals; Environmental Health; Risk Assessment

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How to Cite

Domingo, J. L., Rovira, J., & Schuhmacher, M. (2025). Long-Term Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Hazardous Waste Incineration: A Case-Study in Catalonia, Spain. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 7(6), 227–243. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i6.9253

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 6 (June 2025)

Article Type

Review

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Copyright © 2025 Jose L. Domingo, Joaquim Rovira, Marta Schuhmacher

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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