Middle-of-the-Night Inspections Target Nuisance Odors from Imperial Landfill

The Allegheny County Health Department today announced a new effort to pinpoint and eliminate persistent odors coming from the Imperial Landfill in Findlay.

 “We have decided to schedule routine middle-of-the-night inspections at the landfill because an off-site air monitoring station has shown that odor-causing hydrogen sulfide gases tend to increase throughout the night and decrease at sunrise,” said County Health Director Dr. Bruce W. Dixon.

“Something is clearly happening during the overnight period and our inspectors will use portable hand-held meters to measure and track the hydrogen sulfide gases in an attempt to determine exactly where they’re coming from and why they’re migrating off-site.”

The odors have generated numerous complaints from residents of the surrounding area as well as the staff and parents of children at the nearby Wilson Elementary School.

Although the chemicals which cause the odors may produce headaches or cause irritation in sensitive individuals, ongoing air monitoring and epidemiological studies find that the odors, while a concern, are primarily a nuisance and pose no significant health risk.

The Health Department will continue efforts to refine exposure assessments and air monitoring to ensure the health and safety of those working, living and going to school near the landfill.

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