On November 14, 2018, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) contacted the EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substance Disease Registry (ATSDR), requesting assistance with air monitoring at the large smoldering landfill fire. The EPA and Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractors prepared equipment on Thursday, November 15 and deployed to the Site on November 16. The EPA and START contractors arrived onsite and established three air monitoring stations; one on an adjacent vacant property south of the fire, one on an adjacent residential property north of the fire and one upwind on a residential property near the Bear Creek Middle School.
Oxygen, explosive gas, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compound (VOC) and particulate monitors were deployed. The monitors ran continuously through the evening of November 18 for approximately 55 hours.
On November 17 and 18, ambient air sampling was conducted at the property line of the Site, as close to the smoke plume as feasible without trespassing. The sampling ran for eight hours and covered both daytime and nighttime hours. Background, upwind sampling also occurred. The collected air samples will be sent off to an analytical laboratory for the following analyses:
- Asbestos
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
- Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds
- Dioxins
- Formaldehyde
- Phosgene
- Target Analyte List (TAL) Metals
- Mercury
Air monitoring and air sampling data was reviewed, validated and summary tables were sent to GAEPD and ATSDR for review and action.
Air Monitoring Summary:
11/16/2018, 1010 hours through 11/17/2018 0800 hours - Particulate (PM 2.5) concentrations unhealthy for sensitive populations southeast of the fire.
11/17/2018, 2000 hours through 11/18/2018, 0800 hours - Particulate (PM 2.5) concentrations unhealthy for sensitive populations northwest of the fire.
Air Sampling Event Summary:
The EPA Regional Screening Levels were exceeded for the following compounds at the downwind sampling location:
- Formaldehyde
- Phosgene
- Acrolein
- Benzene
- Ethylbenzene
- Naphthalene
The following compounds were detected but the concentrations did not exceed the EPA Regional Screening Levels:
- Aluminum
- Barium
- Sodium
- 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
- Acetone
- Acetonitrile
- Carbon Disulfide
- Chloromethane
- Cyclohexane
- Ethyl Acetate
- Heptane
- Hexane
- m-/p-Xylenes
- Methyl Ethyl Ketone
- Methylene Chloride
- o-Xylene
- Propylene
- Styrene
- Tetrachloroethane
- Tetrahydrofuran
- Toluene
Summary sheets and air monitoring/sampling results a have been sent to GAEPD and ATSDR. ATSDR has published public information fact sheet.