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Smog From Landfills
- Article from:
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The Washington Post
- Article date:
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June 20, 1995
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Copyright informationCopyright 1995 The Washington Post. This material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Larry Bohlen {letters, May 6} suggests I was mistaken when I said
that landfills were the greatest stationary source of smog-forming
gases in Prince George's County.
Landfills are a significant and unregulated source of smog-
forming chemicals. Nationally, about 600,000 tons of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) are released from landfills each year. But VOCs are
only one, perhaps minor, component of a spectrum of hazardous and
environmentally damaging gases emanating from landfills. Of more
concern are the vast quantities of methane (10,000 tons per year from
an average landfill) and more than 30 different Hazardous Air
Pollutants (HAPs) in landfill emissions. The HAPs include many known
or ...