During 1/22-23/04 period, EPA performed air monitoring in three locations surrounding the mulch fire. Monitors were placed on the property fence line, in the playground of a nearby school, and nearby residential area.
Because of the cold weather, the monitors were able to only run a maximum of 10 hours straight. Alkaline batteries lose power very quickly in cold weather. During this period, the residential and school monitors registered very low levels of particulate matter (< 1 ppm). The wind conditions tend to be low at night and present the greatest chance of smoke reaching these particular areas. The monitor on the fence line indicated a maximum particulate matter concentration of 10 ppm, but the average was less than 2 ppm. According to our air monitoring results, the smoke in the area was more of a nuisance and did not present a health problem.
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