The Potential Ozone Impacts of Landfills

Landfill gas produces ozone precursors such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde when combusted in flares or stationary engines. Solid waste landfills are also the third largest anthropogenic source of methane United States. Methane is both a greenhouse tropospheric precursor. Despite its low photochemical reactivity, may noticeably affect urban if released large quantities along with other organic compounds landfill gas. A fine-scale 3D Eulerian chemical transport model was used to demonstrate that, under meteorological background conditions conducive high concentrations, typical emissions from single hypothetical result persistent daytime additions over 1 part per billion (ppb) by volume tens kilometers downwind. Large leaks can enhance this pollution tenth ppb, external sources non-methane further exacerbate impact. In addition, combustion increase near-source exposure toxic well half ppb. Southeast Michigan, combined influence several upwind key monitoring sites contribute significantly observed exceedances U.S. standard.