Atmospheric Emissions of Short- and Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins from Polyvinyl Chloride/Plastics and Rubber Products Incineration

The widespread incineration disposal of waste polymers may lead to the release of chemical additives. Chlorinated paraffins (CPs), one of the most widely used additives in plastic and rubber products, have drawn significant attention due to their toxicity and environmental persistence. However, research regarding the release characteristics of CP additives during the incineration process remains sparse. This study systematically investigated how product properties and combustion conditions influence short-chain CP and medium-chain CP emission profiles through the thermochemical treatment of three commonly used poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) products and three rubber products. The results showed that, on average, PVC products released 468.1 μg/g of SCCPs and 62,780.2 μg/g of MCCPs, whereas rubber products released 13.9 μg/g of SCCPs and 94.9 μg/g of MCCPs. Among them, PVC cable sheaths exhibited the highest release level. Based on the data, we estimated the national total emissions of CPs in China. If all PVC products were incinerated at medium temperatures, approximately 0.27 Mt of CPs would be produced annually, representing a 413% increase compared to high-temperature incineration. Avoiding medium-temperature incineration is critical for minimizing the CP release from PVC products into the surrounding environment. This study provides a scientific basis for developing CP emission reduction strategies during waste incineration.