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The dioxin/POPs legacy of pesticide production in Hamburg: Part 2—waste deposits and remediation of Georgswerder landfill

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Abstract

α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ-HCH (lindane) were listed as persistent organic pollutants in the Stockholm Convention. Therefore, they need to be globally addressed including the wastes remaining from historic use and production. While at most lindane production sites the unintentionally produced 85 % HCH waste isomers have been deposited, at a former pesticide factory in Hamburg-Moorfleet HCH waste isomers have been recycled from 1953 to 1984 by thermal decomposition to chlorobenzenes and resulted in high polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/PCDF)-contaminated residues. The management of the PCDD/PCDF-contaminated waste from the former pesticide factory in Hamburg has been assessed and quantified. Based on past accredited PCDD/PCDF measurements, the registered 3,700 tonnes of disposed thermal HCH decomposition residue contained 333 to 854 kg of PCDD/PCDF toxicity equivalent (I-TEQ) in 53–102 tonnes total sum of PCDD/PCDF. The wastes have been deposited together with other wastes in landfills in Hamburg and other parts of Germany. For the Georgswerder landfill (Hamburg), where approximately 50 % of the PCDD/PCDF is disposed, current and previous situation and remediation activities are described. While PCDD/PCDF leaching from the landfill is controlled and incinerated, more water soluble organochlorines (vinyl chloride, cis-1,2-dichlorethene, chlorobenzenes) and benzene remain as a challenge for groundwater management. A comprehensive aftercare program has been established and will need to be operated by future generations including renewal of containment systems. Former lindane/HCH productions need—in addition to HCH deposits—to be assessed for possible recycling practice of HCH and related PCDD/PCDF-containing deposits. This could systematically be addressed within the Stockholm Convention implementation.

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Notes

  1. In 2010, a symposium on 25 years of remediation of the Georgswerder landfill has been held. Some key findings are summarized in this paper: http://www.hamburg.de/energieberg-georgswerder/2344370/25-jahre-deponie-georgswerder-fachtagung.html

  2. This HCH waste contained PCDD/PCDF at lower levels and a wider range from 0.08 to 295 μg I-TEQ/kg (in parts per billion) (Scholz and Engler 1987). The delta-paste contained approximately 5 μg/kg 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Universität Bayreuth, Tritschler and Partner GmbH 1995a).

  3. Germany submitted PCDD/PCDF releases to air (for 2004).

  4. See footnote 1.

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Lothar Moosmann of the Geologisches Landesamt in Hamburg, Germany for providing Figs. 2, 3, and 5 and to Tim Newfield for the native correction of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nettelhof 6, 22609, Hamburg, Germany

    Rainer Götz

  2. Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt Hamburg, Abteilung Bodenschutz/Altlasten, Billstrasse 84, 20539, Hamburg, Germany

    Volker Sokollek

  3. POPs Environmental Consulting, Ulmenstrasse 3, D-73035, Göppingen, Germany

    Roland Weber

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  1. Rainer Götz
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Correspondence to Roland Weber.

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Responsible editor: Leif Kronberg

This article belongs also to the series “dioxin and POP contaminated sites” edited by Roland Weber, Mats Tysklind, and Caroline Gaus (Weber et al. 2008a,b).

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Götz, R., Sokollek, V. & Weber, R. The dioxin/POPs legacy of pesticide production in Hamburg: Part 2—waste deposits and remediation of Georgswerder landfill. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 1925–1936 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0986-x

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