A public health assessment tool used to analyze the health and safety effects of a

Abstract

When a landslide of unprecedented magnitude occurred at Ohio's largest landfill, the health and safety of residents and workers became a major focus of concern. On March 9, 1996, cracks developed in the northwest side of the active face of the Rumpke Sanitary Landfill. As a result 20 acres of solid waste slid into an 11-acre excavated area, exposing approximately 1.5 million cubic yards of solid waste and creating a public health nuisance. Health and environmental concerns raised by the incident and requiring immediate attention included air quality, odors, water quality, leachate, fires, and disease vectors. This paper explains a process that organized and systematically reviewed environmental and medical data related to the landslide at the Rumpke Sanitary Landfill. That process was responsible for determining the impact the landslide could have on the public health. It was a collaborative effort involving physicians, nurses, engineers. sanitarians, industrial hygienists, regulators, and Rumpke personnel. The goal was to determine whether the situation posed an imminent health risk for workers and nearby residents. This kind of public health assessment consists of three integrated components: a review of existing environmental and medical data, exposure pathway analysis and toxicological analysis. Ultimately, the public health assessment tool assisted the responsible entities in deciding whether or not to order an evacuation of residents. and also assissted them in determining the kinds of health and safety measures to be taken during the remediation process. Show more