Microwave assisted extraction of dioxins from fly ash samples

The incineration of municipal solid or medical waste is prone to high dioxins emissions. Typically, the dioxins produced from incinerators are captured by the air pollution control division (APCD) and remain in the fly ash. The analysis of dioxins in fly ash can be very challenging and many methods have been developed over time to obtain good recoveries from this difficult matrix.
Dioxins and furans are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate in the food chain.
Their persistence and the fact that they accumulate in the food chain, notably in animal fat, are the main cause of safety concerns. Since their toxicity and persistence, dioxins are listed in the POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) covered by the Stockholm Convention. Longer-term exposure to these substances has been shown to cause a range of adverse effects on the nervous, immune and endocrine systems, impair reproductive function and they may also cause cancer.