By VANESSA VALENZUELA
THE final report into the controversial Tullamarine landfill has found pollutants at the site pose a low risk to nearby residents.
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recently completed the extensive investigation following the release of the Tullamarine Landfill ‘Community Health and Environment Report’ in February last year.
The 12-month air monitoring program was undertaken to address community concerns about air quality impacts from pollutants in the residential area of the closed Tullamarine landfill.
During the investigation more than 300 samples of pollutants were taken at five sites in the vicinity of the landfill and compared the results against national and international air quality guidelines.
The report concluded there was no increased cancer incidence for residents living within a four kilometre radius of the landfill.
“Many of the pollutants EPA monitored for in the residential area didn’t show up, meaning they’re at really low levels. The ones that did show up were below the corresponding health-based air quality guideline value,” the EPA report said.
The investigation began after the Terminate Tulla Toxic Dump Action Group (TTTDAG) raised concerns in 2010 that the former landfill could have caused 74 cancer deaths in nearby residents since 1995.
Despite recent findings released by the EPA, members of the TTTDAG feared the landfill still posed significant health risks to nearby residents.
A new report by the Western Region Environment Centre claimed toxic chemicals are being transported via the groundwater into the surrounding environment.
TTTDAG spokesperson Kaylene Wilson said the group was not surprised to discover that the situation at the landfill site was getting worse over time.
“In the past four years we have met with EPA many times. Basically our requests for stronger action have been ignored. We are sick of investigations, we want action,” Ms Wilson said.
