Incineration

Incineration is the most common method of chemical agent destruction.
It was selected in the early 1980s by DoD as the preferred method for disposal of chemical agents and munitions after long and careful consideration of several technologies. The NRC endorsed this selection in 1984 and continues to regard incineration as a demonstrated safe "baseline technology."

Incineration is appropriate for several major reasons:

• It effectively breaks down any type of chemical agent to relatively harmless or controllable end products.
• The technology has matured into a reasonably well-controlled and well-understood body of knowledge.
• The technology provides capable operation in a manner that is safe to workers and the public.

Reliability of Incineration

No community resident has ever been exposed to harmful levels of chemicals from disposal operations. To date, millions of pounds of chemical agents have been destroyed safely at the Johnston Atoll facility in the Pacific Ocean; in Tooele, Utah; Anniston, Alabama; Umatilla, Oregon; and Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

A number of safeguards are built into the materials transport and disposal systems. For example,

• Weapon-related materials are put into containers that are closely examined for leaks before they are used.
• All containers are inspected and monitored again after they have been moved and off-loaded to the disposal plant.
• Air in the disposal facility passes through a cascading airflow system from cleanto increasingly contaminated areas to prevent migration of chemical agents to the outdoor environment.
• In specific areas of the plant where a chemical release is most likely, the air is continuously monitored with systems capable of detecting chemical agent concentration levels below those categorized as "acceptable" for occupational exposure.
• All gases released from disposal stacks are continuously monitored and the entire disposal system is programmed to stop if a chemical agent is detected.

For more information about incinerator air emissions and safety issues, read

• Incinerator Air Emissions - Inhalation Exposure Perspectives
• Safe Disposal of Chemical Weapons

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