Determination of PCDD/F for hazard assessment in a municipal landfill contaminated with industrial sewage sludge

Because of former depositions of dioxin-containing industrial sewage sludges in a municipal landfill (1983–1993), investigations on the possible hazards from polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F) during regular operations on site became necessary within the scope of an preliminary acute assessment of the environmental health situation. To achieve this, samples of different compartments (air, soil, sediment) were taken to determine wether an increased residual pollution with PCDD/F is discernible. The analytical results do not indicate any hazard for the staff or the environment on the air path, that is by wind erosion or volatilization, if no excavation work is carried out. For recultivation activities on the polluted old landfill site, however, working precautions are recommended to exlude possible risks for the workers. Informations about contamination of ground water are to be gathered. For this, drill cores through the body of the old landfill will be analyzed in the near future.