Hazard Assessment of Maalaea Construction and Demolition Landfill Smoldering Fire, and Air Quality at a Nearby Community

Abstract

This paper presents a chemical monitoring approach taken to assess the hazards and risks to a community posed by a fire in a nearby landfill. Air quality was assessed at the downwind limb of the landfill as well as at the nearest sensitive receptor: the closest community. The hazard assessment included chemical sampling and analysis followed by a toxicological risk-based evaluation of the levels of airborne gasses and aerosols detected. The risk assessment included likelihood of current and future exposures to airborne contaminants in the context of the landfill fire and the surrounding environment. This also included the most notable industrial, agricultural and natural sources of air pollutants in the air shed typically upstream of the community. Concentrations at the landfill were notable while those at the community a mile away were not deemed a health hazard at the time of sampling.