This work tries to give an answer to following questions:
1. What are the emission limit values for dioxins (PCDD/F) in different countries like?
2. What kind of measurements are taken to minimize dioxin emissions from different scources?
3. What policy regarding dioxins do different countries have?
The work compares emission limit values and measurements against dioxins in Europe, USA and Japan for air, soil, water and waste material with focus on Waste Incineration Plants and the Iron and Steel Industry.
1. It can be said that all countries try to reach an emission limit value for air of 0,1 ng I-TEQ/Nm³ for all plants. The most countries already have passed this value into law. (Apart the USA that have higher emission limit values) There are hardly any emission limit values for water, soil or waste material.
2. The measurements to minimize dioxin emissions are nearly the same in all countries (except the USA) and as recommended in the Best Available Techniques Reference documents written by the EU.
3. The countries in Europe, especially Austria and Germany, but also Japan are
aware of the problems caused by dioxins which can be seen in very stringent emission limit values. The Iron and Steel Industry in the USA is currently considering the dioxin problem as irrelevant.
It can be said that not only the emission limit values but also the measurements that are taken to minimize the PCDD/F emissions are nearly the same in all countries (except the USA) as well as in all industries.