The public has until November 20 to give the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) input on its Bridgeton Landfill Health Consultation document, which is available at health.mo.gov/bridgeton and the St. Louis County Library’s Bridgeton Trails Branch, 3455 McKelvey Rd. in Bridgeton.
The document is based on an evaluation of air data collected near Bridgeton Landfill to determine the impacts of landfill gas emissions on people’s health. The data were collected by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 2013 to 2016.
Bridgeton Landfill is a solid waste landfill located within the boundaries of the West Lake Landfill. Sub-surface smoldering at the landfill, which was first reported in December 2010, resulted in increased gas and odor emissions from the landfill. Today chemical and odor emissions have been substantially reduced, according to DHSS.
Currently, DHSS reported, fugitive emissions from the landfill have decreased significantly, and breathing sulfur-based compounds in the air near the landfill is unlikely to harm most people’s health. However, the odors of low concentrations of sulfur-based compounds may occasionally affect the health or quality of life of people living or working near the landfill.
Breathing other (i.e., non-sulfur based) chemicals that have been detected in the air is not expected to harm people’s health, according to DHSS. Current cancer risks from breathing volatile organic compounds near the landfill are similar to those in other urban environments in the United States, according to DHSS.
Because occasional offensive odors may trigger asthma or affect quality of life, especially for sensitive individuals living or working near the landfill, DHSS continues to recommend:
- When odors are objectionable, stay indoors as much as possible and avoid outdoor exercise. This is especially important for sensitive individuals: children, elderly adults and people with chronic respiratory conditions.
- Seek immediate medical advice for any acute respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing. Offensive odors may cause changes in breathing or trigger an asthma attack.
- Seek medical advice for any persistent symptoms that do not subside when the odors dissipate, including symptoms associated with stress.
- Always practice good health-protective measures, such as following recommended nutrition guidelines and getting regular exercise. Individuals at risk of chronic stress are advised to develop a comprehensive stress management plan.
Public comments may be sent by email to BridgetonComments@health.mo.gov or postal mail to Lorena Locke, Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO, 65102. Comments need to be submitted or postmarked by November 20.
