Environmental radon exposure from landfill gas utilization

Samples of gas burned at Coyote Canyon's landfill gas to energy facility in Irvine, California exhibited radon concentration between 276-471 pCi/L in 2001. Coyote Canyon is one of hundreds of landfill gas to energy facilities operating in the United States today, which are not required to follow stringent air pollution regulations to control emissions. Without air controls, radon in the fuel is released to the environment. Rainwater and particulate matter within 2.5 km of the Coyote Canyon facility were collected and analyzed for lead-210, the first long lived radon daughter isotope. The concentration of lead-210 in rainwater and particulate matter was compared between wind distributions and geographical locations to detect differences and gradients. Radioactivity was expected to be greater closer to the facility and downwind compared to samples taken further away and upwind. No statistically significant differences were measured in lead-210 concentrations in either media compared with background radiation. Radioactivity from the facility is sufficiently low to not pose a public health hazard. Emissions from landfill gas facilities at less favorable locations will likely pose a greater public health threat than this facility.