Some new sources of PCDD/F in recycled pulp products

Wastepaper is extensively used as raw material for paper and board production. In 1991 more than 6.6 million tons of wastepaper were utilized by the German paper industry. In general the collected wastepaper contains higher amounts of PCDD/F than a comparable newly produced paper of the same type. This could be referred to some different contaminations during former processing and use. Summarizing the results, it could be clearly shown that the use of pentachlorophenol and printing inks cause an additional PCDD/F input into the wastepaper and therefore in recycled pulp products, too. Investigating only a small number of samples, an estimation about the quantity referring to the corresponding sources cannot be made