The Threat of Environmental Pollution with Harmful Substances, on the Example of Uncontrolled Fires in Landfills and Actions Aimed at Reducing it

Aim: This article attempts to bring closer the issues related to the emission of harmful substances to the environment. The example of two fires that occurred in Poland in 2018 was used – in the former “Boruta” plant in Zgierz and in a landfill in Trzebinia. By presenting the results of measurements and tests available in this field, attention was drawn to the need to improve the methods of detecting and measuring hazardous substances, in particular with regard to their dispersion in the atmosphere. Introduction: The threat to the environment resulting from improper management, including waste disposal, remains a serious challenge for many societies, also for the EU countries, which are among the richest countries in the world. Increased waste generation, high costs related to waste management, i.e. landfilling and recycling, generate the risk of deliberately causing fires in landfills as a method of free disposal. It is cost-free only from the point of view of the dishonest owner of this waste, because the direct costs of long-term rescue and firefighting activities and the effects of the emission of hazardous substances to the environment are borne by the society. In addition, in the last of the aspects mentioned above, the price for this method of disposal is paid primarily by people living in the vicinity of the facilities in question. But not only. In the event of the penetration of the substances mentioned above into the soil and watercourses via e.g. firefighting waters, their impact – also delayed in time – may also affect many other people, e.g. consumers of agricultural products manufactured in the contaminated areas. Methodology: In the article, mainly theoretical research methods were used, including the analysis of literature. Also research reports of specialized research units involved in extinguishing the mentioned fires were analysed. The legal instruments were reviewed against the background of economic conditions and their impact on the efficiency of waste management in Poland was determined. Conclusions: Despite measurement imperfections mentioned above, the presence of the compounds such as toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, methylstyrene, sulfur dioxide and o-xylene, which are characteristic substances released during the combustion of plastics, was found in the fire areas. The analysis of surface water samples showed exceeding the standard levels of metals such as copper, aluminum and antimony, as well as petroleum substances such as anthracene, fluoranthene, benzo (b) fluoranthene, benzo (k) fluoranthene, benzo (g, h, i) fluoranthene, petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile phenols. Moreover, elevated values of heavy metals were found in the soil. The above data fully justify the formulation of a thesis on the need to undertake increased, systemic actions aimed at reducing the number and size of fires in landfills. The description of some activities in the field of fire protection of the considered facilities undertaken in Poland will also constitute one of the issues of this article. Keywords: hazardous waste materials, environmental hazard, waste management, uncontrolled fires, legal regulations in waste management Type of article: review article