Toxic Gases Emitted By 9 Landfills Threaten People, Water, And Soil, Epa Warns

As a result of toxic gases emitted from nine landfills, the Environment Public Authority warned that water and soil were at risk. In addition, the other 10 landfills in the country pose potential risks that need remedial and protective measures, including treatment, monitoring, restriction of use, and additional investigations.

The EPA stressed in a report obtained by a local Arabic daily that 10 specific landfills, of which five are affecting the population significantly and highly, need to be treated, monitored, restricted and investigated.

Several sources stressed the importance of monitoring landfills when they pose medium or high risks, by monitoring groundwater quality or odor emissions, as well as monitoring air, water, soil, and population impacts resulting from emissions from Jahra landfills, the seventh ring road, Mina Abdullah, and Amghara.

A moderate air impact on emissions was found at each landfill in Al-Qurain, Amghara, Sabhan, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Al-Shuaiba, Kabd, according to the EPA. There is a “slight danger” from the Yarmouk landfills, Darkal Kabd, construction and demolition waste dumpsites south of the Seventh Ring Road, and Rahiya.

Nine landfills exhibited "high risk" for water and soil, including Jahra, south of the Seventh Ring Road, Mina Abdullah, Al-Qurain, Amghara, Sabhan, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Shuaiba for industrial waste treatment, and soil contaminated with mercury.

According to the EPA, landfill gases affect the atmosphere and air in the region, and they may also impact the water through the leakage of waste fluid into the groundwater. Additionally, the waste fluid seeps into the soil beneath the landfill body and above, polluting soil and plants around the landfill when it rains.

According to the report, toxic gases, dust, odor, and microorganisms in the landfill affect the nearby residential areas as well as workers at the landfill, causing illnesses and fertile grounds for insects to breed.

Landfills receive 4,701 tons of non-domestic waste each year, including 154.6 tons of hazardous industrial waste, including chemicals, machinery, equipment, and metal products.

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