title: The impact of a landfill fire on ambient air quality in the north: A case study in Iqaluit, Canada.
abstract: A large landfill fire occurred in Iqaluit, Canada in spring/summer 2014. Air quality data were collected to characterize emissions as well as potential threats to public health. Criteria pollutants were monitored (PM2.5, O3, NO2) along with dioxins/furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds. Median daily dioxin/furan concentrations were 66-times higher during active burning (0.2 pg/m(3) Toxic Equivalency Quotient (TEQ)) compared to after the fire was extinguished (0.003 pg/m(3) TEQ). Other pollutants changed less dramatically. Our findings suggest that airborne concentrations of potentially harmful substances may be elevated during landfill fires even when criteria air pollutants remain largely unchanged.
authors.affiliation: Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Canada. Electronic address: scott.weichenthal@hc-sc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weichenthal
authors.affiliation: Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Rijswijk
authors.affiliation: Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kulka
authors.affiliation: Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Ryswyk
authors.affiliation: Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willey
authors.affiliation: Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dugandzic
authors.affiliation: Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutcliffe
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Canada.
authors.forename: Jamessee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Government of Nunavut, Canada.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baike
authors.affiliation: Air Quality Research Division, Environmental Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Air Quality Research Division, Environmental Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Charland
authors.affiliation: Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jessiman
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002170:Canada; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005390:Fires; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Air pollution; Dioxins; Dioxins/furans; Landfill fire; NO(2); Nunavut; O(3); PAHs; PM(2.5); VOCs