Short-term distributions of reduced sulfur compounds in the ambient air surrounding a large landfill facility

Abstract

In order to explore the environmental behavior of reduced sulfur compounds (RSC) as malodorous components emitted from diverse source processes, the distribution characteristics of four sulfur (S) compounds - hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methyl mercaptan (CH3SH), dimethyl sulfide (DMS: (CH3)2S), and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS: (CH3)2S2) - were investigated in a municipal landfill area. In the course of this study, their ambient concentration levels were measured during two time periods from 13 individual spots selected as a function of distance from the center of the landfill site. The results generally indicated the absolute dominance of H2S over the other S compounds investigated (up to 5 km radius) such that their mean values were found as 1415 (H2S), 148 (DMS), 20.6 (CH3SH), and 14.4 ppt (DMDS). When our data were compared in terms of either varying distance from the source or relationship with meteorological conditions, the H2S data sets were most evident to reflect the potential effects of strong source processes in the landfill environment, relative to other S gases (or to volatile organic compounds measured concurrently). The results of this study further indicated the relatively good correspondence between the measured H2S concentration level and humans' intuitive sensory of odor and nuisance.