Impact of Landfill Mitigation Efforts to Reduce Air Toxics in Bristol, Tennessee and Virginia

摘要 一年多来，布里斯托、田纳西州（TN）和弗吉尼亚州（VA）的居民经历了大量接触 垃圾填埋场排放物，包括挥发性有机化合物（VOC），如苯、甲苯和氢 硫化物这些空气有毒物质的环境水平已经由美国环保署和弗吉尼亚州环保部测量。 环境质量根据这些采样活动期间发现的浓度，制定了行动计划， 2022年7月6日发布，以开始逐步减少来自 垃圾填埋场。本行动计划提供了一个重要的机会来衡量这一环境政策的影响， 改善空气质素及减少异味。自2021年10月以来，海恩斯（PI）一直在开发一个社区- 与布里斯托居民建立学术研究伙伴关系，以确定研究策略， 户外暴露和潜在的健康影响。居民们报告说，他们的经历是"无休止的 噩梦，“与“不停的气味留在房子里，”和“它难以呼吸。”鉴于我们与 城市经理和社区居民，我们准备评估环境的影响， 减少空气中有毒物质和气味的政策，并评估与此相关的潜在长期健康后果 暴露。我们提出了这些高度时间敏感的具体目标：目标1：表征室内和室外 挥发性有机化合物的浓度，包括弗吉尼亚州布里斯托和田纳西州家庭周围的苯和硫化氢 居民在实施缓解行动计划之前。目标2：表征室内和室外 在布里斯托，弗吉尼亚州/田纳西州居民的家中和周围的VOCs和硫化氢的浓度， 缓解行动计划的阶段，以确定各种缓解策略的影响 暴露。目标3：评估填埋场和缓解计划对气味检测、生活质量、 居民的压力。这项时间敏感的研究对未来的垃圾填埋场缓解工作至关重要， 全国各地的许多社区都面临着与城市固体废物设施有关的挑战。

Abstract For over a year, residents of Bristol, Tennessee (TN) and Virginia (VA) have experienced significant exposure to landfill emissions including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, and hydrogen sulfide. Ambient levels of these air toxics have been measured by the EPA and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Based on the concentrations found during these sampling events, a Plan of Action was released on July 6, 2022 to begin incremental steps towards mitigating the air toxics emanating from the landfill. This Plan of Action presents a critical opportunity to measure the impact of this environmental policy to improve air quality and reduce odors. Since October 2021, Haynes (PI) has been developing a community- academic research partnership with Bristol residents to identify research strategies to identify their indoor and outdoor exposures and potential health impacts. The residents have reported their experiences as “an endless nightmare,” with “non-stop odor that stays in the house,” and “its hard to breathe.” Given our partnership with the City Manager and community residents, we are poised to evaluate the impacts of an environmental policy to reduce air toxics and odors and evaluate the potential long-term health consequences related to these exposures. We propose these highly time-sensitive specific aims: Aim 1: Characterize indoor and outdoor concentrations of VOCs, including benzene and hydrogen sulfide in and around homes of Bristol, VA/TN residents prior to the implementation of the mitigation action plan. Aim 2: Characterize indoor and outdoor concentrations of VOCs and hydrogen sulfide in and around homes of Bristol, VA/TN residents after each stage of the mitigation action plan in order to determine the impact of the various strategies to mitigate exposures. Aim 3: Evaluate the impact of the landfill and the mitigation plan on odor detection, quality of life, and stress of residents. This time-sensitive research is critical to inform future landfill mitigation efforts as numerous communities across the country face challenges associated with municipal solid waste facilities.