Table 19: Estimated Chemical Emissions from Backyard Burning
Chemical Estimated Emissions from all Household Waste Burn Barrels in the US

(lbs/year) *

benzene 4,500,000
styrene 3,400,000
formaldehyde 3,100,000
total PCDD (dioxins) 139
total PCDF (furans) 22
total PCB's 10,962
hydrochloric acid 1,000,000
hydrogen cyanide 1,700,000
lead 1790
mercury 232
arsenic 8186
*Note: the factor relating total dioxins (PCDD - all 210 congeners) to TEQ of dioxin (which considers only the 17 congeners of TCDD, with a weighing factor applied to each) lies somewhere between 50 and 100. Thus, the estimate of 800 grams as TEQ TCDD is comparable with this calculation

Source: Michigan DEQ Air Quality Division, August, 1999.