Health Impacts of Waste Management Policies

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxv

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2. Introductory Chapter: Awareness of the Health Impacts of Waste Management

   1. Introductory Chapter: Awareness of the Health Impacts of Waste Management

      • P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati, C. V. Howard, M. Parkes, L. Hens

      Pages 1-25

3. The Waste Management and the Health Scene

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 27-27

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   2. Persistent Organic Chemical Pollution: An Introduction

      • C. V. Howard, G. Staats De Yanes, P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati

      Pages 29-40

   3. The Challenge to Achieve Better Landfills Where Only Dumps are Achieved Now: An Anthology

      • P. Rushbrook

      Pages 41-56

   4. Waste Management: An Industrial Policy Point of View

      • O. Linher

      Pages 57-62

4. National Policy Lines on Waste Management

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 63-63

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   2. The European Environmental Bureau on the European Commission’s Proposal on Incineration of Waste

      • D. Sotiropoulos-Vardaka

      Pages 65-72

   3. Household Waste Management in the Flemish Region of Belgium

      • L. Van Grimbergen

      Pages 73-88

   4. Waste-To-Energy and Waste Management: Austrian and EU Policy Lines

      • R. L. Lindbauer

      Pages 89-105

   5. Policy Options for Waste Management in Greece

      • C. Dontas

      Pages 107-120

   6. Waste Management Policies in the United States of America

      • G. Valaoras

      Pages 121-131

5. Health Issues on Waste Management

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 133-133

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   2. Background Exposure to Dioxins and PCB’s in Europe and the Resulting Health Effects

      • J. G. Koppe, G. Ten Tusscher, P. De Boer

      Pages 135-154

   3. Particulate Aerosols, Incinerators and Health

      • C. V. Howard

      Pages 155-174

   4. Health and Environmental Impact Assessment

      • L. Hens

      Pages 175-197

   5. Can Ecological Taxes Play a Role in Diminishing the Health Impacts of Waste Management?

      • C. Steenwegen

      Pages 199-213

   6. Co-Ordinated Regional Action for the Reduction of Solid Waste Pollution in the Framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan

      • G. Kamizoulis

      Pages 215-222

6. Case Studies

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 223-223

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   2. A Local Increased Incidence of Orofacial Clefts in Amsterdam: The Result of Open Combustion of Chemicals?

      • G. W. Ten Tusscher, G. A. Stam, J. G. Koppe

      Pages 225-238

This chapter introduces key themes from the book, reflecting the topics of the 'Awareness of the Health Impacts of Waste Management Policies' Seminar, in Kos, Greece. November, 1998. The waste management and health scene is introduced by an outline of concems relating to persistent organic pollutants, as well as through perspectives from Less Developed Countries and from industry. An overview of policy lines for waste management includes an assessment of recent proposals by the European Commission, as well as selected examples from European countries and the USA. Descriptions of developments in research, tools and conceptual approaches for waste management and health issues are provided. Research into health effects of dioxins and PCBs is outlined, as are reviews of technological options for waste management, proposed developments in health impact assessment, environmental taxes as a waste management tool, and integrated regional waste management approaches. A series of case studies provide real­ world examples of research and policy development including a review of the effects of waste management on wildlife and domestic animals. In conclusion, important crossover themes and challenges are outlined. Topical issues include differences between technological capacity and actual performance, burden of proof and the precautionary principle, hazard versus risk assessment, and societal dimensions of awareness and attitudes. Time-lag, intergenerational effects and the introduction of the chemical hygiene concept are highlighted as important considerations, as well as the general need for prioritisation of the child and infant in all regulatory procedures.

• Dioxin
• Policy
• assessment
• combustion
• human health
• pollution
• waste-to-energy

• Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Capodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

  P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati

• Human Ecology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

  L. Hens

• Fetal and Infant Toxico-Pathology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK

  C. V. Howard

Policies and ethics