Here’s some of the email chain. I’ve left out the names of both parties.

Friend:
“…I’ve been living here for 12 years, my daughter was a month old when we moved in… I would like information if we are breathing in these gases from the dump and if there are more cases of cancer in my zip code!

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Hopefully my fears will be put to rest.”

Florida Department of Health:
“Landfills emit gases. The type and volume of emitted gas varies widely depending on the fill composition, landfill construction, and the age of the landfill.

Because gas emissions vary widely between landfills, air testing would be necessary to determine the health risk, but because air testing around landfills is not required by law it is rarely done.”

Friend:
“Thank you for your time and help.

Just curious … if gas emissions from the dump could be a health risk, then why wouldn’t air testing be done routinely?”

Florida Department of Health:
“The state does not require routine testing around landfills, drop off facilities, or sewage treatment plants. I’m unfamiliar with the regulatory history of air monitoring at these facilities. The state environmental agency has jurisdiction at these facilities.”

***********************

So, if you are concerned about a landfill close to you in Florida, we can tell that they do emit gases – (oh ya … so that’s what smells!) – but no one knows if they are bad for you, and no one is checking. Maybe they are good for you?

Most importantly the Florida Department of Health website has their mission:
“Promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida. ”

Yeah, that’s right.

Wow, I thought it was Palm Beach County that put the DUH in Florida!