Identification of human health and environmental impacts of blending processes of co-processing waste

Blending is an activity for the treatment and preparation of waste in the form of blends that are destined for co-processing in cement industries. The purpose of this study was to identify the impacts generated in the various blending stages. Through Life Cycle Assessment, impacts on an average production profile of 30.650 t / year of blends were estimated. A survey was carried out that identified one hundred and seventy-five types of industrial waste used in the treatment, identifying the industrial sector of origin according to data from the environmental agency. The system frontier approach was “gate to gate” and the functional 1 t blending unit. The impact assessment methodologies employed were ReCiPe and Impact 2002+, the latter being only with categories of health-related impacts. The results show that by the ReCiPe method, Human Toxicity was responsible for 53% of the total impact, caused by the emission of metals such as Selenium, Manganese, Arsenic and Barium. Through the Impact 2002+ method, Inorganic Inhalables obtained the highest total impact (51.8%) caused mainly by nitrogen oxides. The most impacting stages were mixing / resting and inerting. It is concluded that blending has a greater impact on human health, especially that of workers, who suffer from greater exposure. It is recommended to reassess the activity by the environmental and labor control bodies, prioritizing studies of process automation, epidemiological studies and, the continuation of the investigation of the impacts of the burning of the blends in the clinker furnaces in approach from the cradle to the gate.