What are Landfill Gasses?
One of the biggest concerns with landfills is the gas that
the organic material emits while decomposing. This “Landfill Gas” is made up of
90-98% methane and carbon dioxide, leaving the other 2-10% oxygen, nitrogen
along with other various gasses. This gas can be created in three ways. Bacterial decomposition is the most common;
it takes place naturally from organic material and soil when in a landfill. The
second likely cause for landfill gasses is Volatilization, this occurs when the
compound turns into a gas vapor, this could be from certain chemicals and waste
in the landfill. And finally the third type of landfill gas is from chemical
reactions, which just as it sounds is from chemicals that have been disposed
of. There are otherwise known as non-methane organic materials or NMOC. Some common examples of these are bleach,
cleaning products and paint. This is dangerous because of chemicals that are
not meant to come in contact with one another, can, and will then let off
dangerous gasses and reactions. Other factors that play a role in the creation
of landfill gas include the type of waste, the temperature and climate of the
location of the landfill, if any (or how much) chemical waste is involved, and
moisture level. These can all take a toll on the process and timeframe of
decomposing and the break down of these materials.
Are they harmful to us?
These gasses have not been a major danger to the public;
however there have been studies and results showing negative results because of
this gas. Short-term effects are commonly irritation to the face/eyes/throat,
coughing and inflammation of the lungs and nausea. Where some long-term effects
have more commonly been aggravation of asthma, lung and breathing difficulties,
weight loss and insomnia. These studies were done over long periods of time in
communities directly exposed to landfill gas. More general dangers associated with
landfill gas is simply that it is made of primarily of methane which is highly flammable,
and if in an environment of space that could become flammable, the gas can
become an explosive mixture of chemicals.
Madison Connolly
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/landfill/html/ch2.html
http://www3.epa.gov/lmop/faq/landfill-gas.html
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