Persistent chemicals in particulate matter (PM) near a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility.

ABSTRACT: Colfax, an overburdened community in central Louisiana, hosts the last commercially-operated open-burn/open-detonation (OB/OD) hazardous waste thermal treatment facility in the United States. Until December 2023 when their permit disallowed OB/OD, the facility processed military waste, fireworks, propellants, soils excavated from Superfund sites, and other hazardous materials. This community-engaged study measured ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and metals using two high-volume PM_2.5 samplers deployed 1.2 mi and 9.0 mi from the facility from April, 2022 through February, 2023. Elevated PM_2.5 concentrations were recorded at both sites dur

SUBMITTER: Guo C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12646043 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature