Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 24/05) - Stanton Territorial Hospital's incinerator has been shut down after failing an emission test by a huge margin.

The incinerator had a spectacular 1,040 times the recommended amount of total polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCCDs).

Biomedical waste for incineration is broken down into six categories: Human anatomical waste: human tissues, organs and body parts Animal waste: parts and fluids from animals Microbiology lab waste: lab cultures and cell cultures Human blood and body fluids Waste sharps: needles, syringes and blades Cytotoxic waste: waste caused by cancer treating agents Source: GNWT department of environment and natural resources guidelines for management of biomedical waste

Hospital officials shut down the 17-year-old furnace on April 18, after receiving test results.

"Nobody was aware that the result of the emission testing would be what they were," said Ken Hall, GNWT environmental protection manager.

"This is the first time that emissions testing has been done," said Hall.

Hospital officials were predicting the demise of the incinerator in 2003, when its potentially toxic ash was being sent to the Yellowknife dump.

New emission guidelines for medical waste incineration were adopted by the territory in April 2005, leading to the test.

The furnaces will now be tested every year under the new rules.

The new territorial limit for the toxin is 0.02 nanograms (ng) per cubic metre of air. Stanton tested at 20.8 ng.

PCCDs are a by-product of burning plastic. They have been recognized as a cancer causing agent by Environment Canada. PCCDs are toxic in animals and can accumulate in tissue.

The hospital has purchased a cooled trailer to store the waste and are now shipping it to Wainwright, Alberta, for disposal.

"It's an estimate at this point, but it will probably cost $70,000 a year to ship," said hospital CEO Chuck Parker.

A new incinerator would cost near $600,000, according to Parker.

The hospital is looking for a regional solution, as Inuvik and Fort Smith hospitals have failed the emissions tests as well.

Inuvik was 23 times over the limit and Fort Smith was four times over.

Stanton Territorial Hospital the GNWT and other territorial hospitals are reviewing handling of medical waste and will report in the fall.

The options are to build a new incinerator for Stanton, continue shipping the waste to Alberta or to install new technology.

Some new methods being considered include microwave and steam technology.

The problem at Stanton is with the furnace itself; the problem with the other two hospitals is different.

"The incinerators in Inuvik and Fort Smith are new, the start-up and training is what is behind that," said Hall.

"At Stanton, it's believed to be because of it's age. It's unable to meet the operating conditions," said Hall.