HEALTH CONSULTATION
HARTFORD LANDFILL
HARTFORD, HARTFORD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT
CERCLIS NO. CTD983870692
March 12, 1998
Prepared by:
Connecticut Department of Public Health
Under Cooperative Agreement with the
Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
The conclusions and recommendations in this Health Consultation are based on the data and
information made available to the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry. The Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will incorporate additional information if and when received.
The incorporation of additional data could change the conclusions and recommendations listed in this document.
BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF ISSUES
On June 29, 1994, a Hartford, Connecticut based community organization petitioned the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to examine the impact of the Hartford Landfill on the health of residents surrounding the landfill [1]. The petition included a request to "investigate, prevent, and/or mitigate concerns regarding potential adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life of the residents possibly resulting from exposure to hazardous substances as a result of the dumping of toxic ash" [1]. In response to that request a Health Consultation was prepared and finalized on December 23, 1996 [2]. One recommendation listed in that report was that the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection conduct ambient air sampling for hydrogen sulfide. In December 1996, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection did not have the methodology to conduct sampling for hydrogen sulfide. Since then, methods have been developed to analyze hydrogen sulfide in the ambient air. This health consultation will review the hydrogen sulfide ambient air sampling conducted by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection [3] during June of 1997.
The Hartford Landfill is in the northeastern section of Hartford, Connecticut. This landfill is also known as the North Meadows Landfill and is owned by the City of Hartford. The Hartford Landfill is bordered on the west by Interstate Highway I-91. The west side of I-91 includes many commercial businesses. Northwest of the landfill is an area containing residential and commercial properties. Some commercial areas are located approximately 300 feet from the landfill perimeter. Thirty acres of land are located directly north of the landfill. The space is used partially for incineratora ash disposal. The shores of the Connecticut River provide the eastern periphery of the landfill. Located just outside the southern boundary of the landfill are Hartford City facilities including the Police Department and the Public Works Yard. Other commercial operations are also located to the south of the landfill.
The Hartford population living within one mile of the Hartford Landfill is approximately 10,300 [2]. The nearest residential areas are approximately 1,500 feet from the landfill.
The contour of the landfill resembles a rectangle. The dimensions are roughly 1,200 feet by 2,500 feet. The parcel on which the landfill is situated consists of about 120 acres. Eighty acres comprise the area where disposal has occurred. The landfill rises to a height of about 100 feet [4, 5].
From approximately 1940 to 1953, the landfill was an open burning dump. All municipal waste from Hartford went to the landfill. From 1953 to 1977, all city waste was burned at the then state-of-the-art Hartford Incineratorb. For this period, the landfill received incinerator ash and bulky wastes. From 1977 to 1988, the landfill received large quantities of municipal solid waste from Hartford and many surrounding communities. From 1988 to the present, the landfill has been used for the Mid-Connecticut Project incinerator ash, processing fines, and assorted bulky and special wastes. Although it is a very large landfill with a lengthy history, the greatest majority of the gas producing wastes were placed in the landfill over the period from 1977 to 1988.
Municipal solid waste in landfills undergoes a process known as decomposition (break down into
simpler compounds). Decomposition by-products include landfill gases. Some of these landfill gases
are: methane, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and odorous compounds including
hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide has a characteristic odor of rotten eggs, and was selected for
sampling due to its nuisance properties.
AVAILABLE DATA AND INFORMATION
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection conducted hydrogen sulfide sampling at the Windsor Avenue sampling station. This is approximately one-half mile northwest of the Hartford Landfill. The sampling was conducted on three separate sampling rounds. The first sampling round was conducted from June 3, 1997, through June 5, 1997. The second sampling round was conducted from June 9, 1997 through June 17, 1997. The third sampling round was conducted from June 27, 1997 through June 30, 1997. The measuring devices were selected to sample every five minutes twenty-four hours per day.
The sampling location was chosen after evaluating the Toxics Release Inventory datac, census data,
meteorological data, and geographic data. The air sampling was conducted to find out what the concentrations of
hydrogen sulfide were in the air of the community northwest of the landfill. Potential sources of the contaminants
include the Hartford Landfill, interstate I-91, automobile repair facilities, and industrial facilities.
Results
Table 1 lists the minimum and maximum values for hydrogen sulfide measured over the entire sampling period. The highest hydrogen sulfide concentration detected during one of the five minute sampling intervals was 12.5 ug/m3. This maximum concentration was reached on three days (June 11, 12, 13, 1997). The peak values were reached during morning (8 am) and late at night (10 pm to 1 am). One peak was reached at 3:00 pm. The average concentration of hydrogen sulfide during the days when the maximum value was reached was between 5.5 ug/m3 and 7 ug/m3. The hydrogen sulfide concentrations were evaluated using the wind direction as measured near the Windsor Avenue sampling station. The maximum hydrogen sulfide concentrations were measured when the wind was originating from the direction of the Hartford Landfill. A comparison of hydrogen sulfide levels to other cities, as well as a comparison to health effects levels are presented in Figure 1 (Appendix). Figure 2 (Appendix) highlights the maximum hourly hydrogen sulfide concentrations over the sampling period during June of 1997. The sampling periods were: June 3-5, June 9-17, and June 27-30, 1997.
Table 1
Maximum, Minimum, and Average Hydrogen Sulfide
Concentration, During a five minute Interval, For each Sampling
Date in June as Measured at the Windsor Avenue Testing Station
| Date | Maximum (ug/m3) (5 minute interval) |
Minimum (ug/m3) (5 minute interval) |
Average (over 24 hour period) ug/m3 |
| June 3 | 8.36 | 2.79 | 5.12 |
| June 4 | 8.36 | 2.79 | 4.62 |
| June 5 | 8.36 | 0 | 4.39 |
| June 9 | 9.76 | 4.18 | 6.06 |
| June 10 | 11.15 | 2.79 | 5.99 |
| June 11 | 12.54 | 1.39 | 5.31 |
| June 12 | 12.54 | 4.18 | 7.07 |
| June 13 | 12.54 | 2.79 | 6.68 |
| June 14 | 5.58 | 0 | 3.30 |
| June 15 | 5.58 | 0 | 3.32 |
| June 16 | 8.36 | 0 | 4.95 |
| June 17 | 6.97 | 2.79 | 3.88 |
| June 27 | 6.97 | 0 | 2.76 |
| June 28 | 6.97 | 0 | 3.25 |
| June 29 | 6.97 | 1.39 | 4.17 |
| June 30 | 6.97 | 2.79 | 4.91 |
DISCUSSION
Residents living near the Hartford Landfill have expressed concern regarding the odors in the air near the Landfill.
Asthma in the community has also been an area of concern. Hydrogen sulfide is an odorous compound associated
with landfills and the decomposition of municipal waste. This compound was analyzed for at the Windsor Avenue
testing location. The maximum level of hydrogen sulfide detected at the Windsor Avenue testing station was above
the level at which an unpleasant odor may be noticed. This concentration is well below the level of hydrogen sulfide
that can cause toxic effects such as irritant damage to eyes or respiratory tract. The average hydrogen sulfide
concentration detected over the sampling period ranged from about 2.5 ug/m3 to 7 ug/m3. The maximum
concentrations were detected when the wind was, for the majority of the time, in a downwind direction from the
Hartford Landfill to the Windsor Avenue sampling station. This concentration is within the range where some
sensitive people may notice an unpleasant odor. Strong unpleasant odors may in some instances make people feel
ill (for example, nausea and headache). Although this compound may be unpleasant at times, asthma is not a
condition that results from hydrogen sulfide exposure (7).
CONCLUSIONS
This report examined hydrogen sulfide concentration in the air near the Hartford Landfill. Potential sources include the Hartford Landfill as well as Interstate I-91, automobile repair facilities, and industrial facilities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Connecticut Department of Public Health should continue to work with the Hartford Health Department
and local community organizations to facilitate community education regarding health issues that have been
raised because of concerns about the landfill. The Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry encourage residents who notice objectionable odors from the
landfill to use established networks of communication including the 24-hour telephone complaint hotline setup
by Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority at (860) 549-1751.
PREPARER OF HEALTH CONSULTATION:
Gary D. Perlman, MPH
Epidemiologist
Environmental Epidemiology and Occupational Health
Connecticut Department of Public Health
ATSDR Regional Representative:
Louise House, RN, MA
ATSDR Region I
ATSDR Technical Project Officer:
Tina Forrester, PhD
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
REFERENCES
Correspondence from: A Hartford Citizen's Group, to: Dr. Barry Johnson, (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). June 29, 1994.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Health Consultation Hartford Landfill Review of Air Emissions Data, December 23, 1996.
Correspondence from: Jim Ellis (Senior Air Pollution Control Engineer (Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection) to: Brian Toal, (Epidemiologist IV - Connecticut Department of Public Health). June 25, 1997.
Environmental Risk Limited. Evaluation of Air Emissions at the Hartford Landfill Hartford, Connecticut. March 1995.
Correspondence from: Christopher Recchia (Director of Environmental Programs- Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority) to: Gary Perlman, (Epidemiologist III - Connecticut Department of Public Health). June 24, 1996.
Metcalf & Eddy. Letter report, summary of our September 27, 1996, ambient air sampling event at and in the vicinity of the Danbury Landfill, Danbury Connecticut. Table 2, Air sample number 4. October 7, 1996.
Health Consultation for Hartford Landfill, Review of Air Emissions Data. Prepared by the Connecticut Department of Public Health Under a Cooperative Agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. December 23, 1996.
APPENDIX
Figure 1. Comparison of Hydrogen Sulfide Levels
Figure 2. Maximum Hydrogen Sulfide Concentration by Date
CERTIFICATION
The Hartford Landfill, Review of Hydrogen Sulfide Ambient Air Data Health Consultation was prepared by the Connecticut Department of Public Health under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures existing at the time the Health Consultation was initiated.
Tina Forrester
Technical Project Officer, SPS, SSAB, DHAC
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this Health Consultation and concurs with its findings.
Richard Gillig
a
b
c
Chief, SPS, SSAB, DHAC, ATSDR
