Assessment of the Potential Health Risks Associated With the Dissemination of Micro-Organisms From a Landfill Site

Abstract

In planning for a new sanitary landfill site, the City of Edmonton, Canada considered the potential for dissemination of micro-organisms via aerosols and by gulls that feed on the refuse. The health impacts on the residents and chicken and mushroom farming activities in the vicinity of the proposed location were assessed. Conclusions based on a review of information in the literature and in the City's planning documents were: (1) the densities of airborne microbes generated at the landfill site would be less than those observed at sewage treatment plants which cause very little health risk; (2) chicken and mushroom farming operations generate very high densities of airborne microbes and the small numbers of microbes that might originate from the landfill site would be insignificant; (3) the proximity of the proposed landfill location to an existing landfill site would not likely change the number of gulls in the area; (4) sound agricultural practices (such as preventing wild birds from contacting poultry, or their water supplies, food and new litter) will minimize risk of the spread of pathogens to chickens from gulls.