Malaria control on Jamaica style

[Dr.Dudd]

Expect more smoke from Riverton landfill
published: Monday | January 1, 2007

Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer


Heavy smoke from fires in the Riverton City landfill covers sections of the Corporate Area, as seen from a location in Red Hills, St. Andrew. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) says residents should expect the smoke from fires at the Riverton City landfill to last for the next three to seven days.

Since Friday, a pall of smoke has been affecting communities close to the dump. But yesterday, the situation became worse with the thick smoke and choking emissions extending to faraway areas such as Half-Way Tree, Constant Spring and Red Hills in St. Andrew and Portmore in St. Catherine.

Many residents claimed this is the worst the situation has ever been.

Defective front-end loaders

Clive McDonald, landfill manager at the NSWMA, told The Gleaner yesterday that the authority has been trying to contain two fires at the municipal landfill since Friday. However, he says two defective front-end loaders and the shortage of other machines used to dump soil on the flammable materials at the site have delayed the process.

"We expected the smoke to have lasted about three days, but two (pieces of) equipment failed during the course of the fire," said Mr. McDonald. Yesterday, the NSWMA managed to obtain additional equipment from a private company, which, Mr. McLean said, has assisted in controlling the blaze.

"Persons must understand though that it takes some time to quell a fire like this, as the landfill is approximately 60 acres," he added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kenneth Baugh, Opposition Spokesman on Health, said the heavy smoke emanating from the fire at the dump is having adverse effects on the health of people in neighbouring districts.

"Many people are experiencing symptoms of runny nose, stuffiness, chest tightness, difficulty in breathing and coughing," explained Dr. Baugh.

Tips

Against negative smoke effects:

Close windows and doors.

Remain indoors as much as possible.

Avoid exposing laundry outdoors to prevent contamination and staining.

- Ministry of Health

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Malaria control on Jamaica style


Not funny.
I think the residents of K,S@Stc should sue!

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Malaria control on Jamaica style


Maybe it if closes the Airport then Portia might get up off her....and do something about these frequent fires at the Landfill.

Sun Dec 31, 2006
Riverton City Landfill causing problems at Norman Manley Airport

The RJR News Centre has received unconfirmed reports that rising smoke from the Riverton City Landfill Sunday morning affected operations at the Norman Manley Airport.
The nature and severity of impact of the smoke on the operation of incoming and outgoing flights could not be ascertained.

However, workers confirmed calls to the news centre that the thick smoke had drifted ominously into the area.

We were instructed to contact the Towers at the airport for a confirmation, but our calls were either transferred or went unanswered.

http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story.php?category=0&story=31437

[R00TS]

Re: Malaria control on Jamaica style

Notfunny Dudd these undeground fires can burn for years.
I've read where they spread for miles and all the trees just start falling over [img]/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] what about methane gas?
Isnt that what dumps emit..bad combo
I hope they do close airport and hands are forced..grrr

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Malaria control on Jamaica style


Even the MOH itself is warning citizens against the smoke.

[ QUOTE ]

Tips

Against negative smoke effects:

Close windows and doors.

Remain indoors as much as possible.

Avoid exposing laundry outdoors to prevent contamination and staining.

- Ministry of Health


[/ QUOTE ]

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Malaria control on Jamaica style

[ QUOTE ]
Notfunny Dudd these undeground fires can burn for years.
I've read where they spread for miles and all the trees just start falling over [img]/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] what about methane gas?
Isnt that what dumps emit..bad combo
I hope they do close airport and hands are forced..grrr

[/ QUOTE ]
You know the landfill?/
a talk bout underground fires...
the place is a wetland. the water table is less than 1 meter.
how is methate gas going to be produced in such condition?Just inase you are not aware methane gas is 4 carbon molecules and 1 hydrogen. So if it comes intontact with water which is 2 oxygen and 1 hydrogen,so all you will get is hydrcloric acid water and chalk coal,but np methane below 1 meter.
methane will be produced,especially at night,but it will desipate in the atmosphere.
saying this ND SAYING THAT AS LONG AS THAT DUMP HAS BEEN THERE THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FIRES. AS A MATTER OF FACT,THE FIRES ARE INTENTIONALLY SET TO REDUCE THE VOLUME OF SOLID WASTE.
IF SOMBODY WOULD GET SMART ENOUGH TO USE IT TO FUEL A STEAM TUIRBINE IT WIOOULD BE MORE BEBEFICIAL. IN ADDITIOON IT WOULD BEABLE TO PAY FOR A SCRUBBER FOR THE SMOkE THAT THE DUMP PRODUCE.
the problem is that nobody realize that the burnt stuff could power a electric generator. .
Now about being funny, I really don't care whether you or anybody find my posts funny. I am not here to entertain jus to inform. Those who don't wish to be exposed to the info I post,can just don't read my posts. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70392-silly.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Malaria control on Jamaica style

[ QUOTE ]
Now about being funny, I really don't care whether you or anybody find my posts funny. I am not here to entertain jus to inform. Those who don't wish to be exposed to the info I post,can just don't read my posts. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70392-silly.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Doc yu tin skin a show tru yu lab coat!

[Sinco01]

Re: Malaria control on Jamaica style

<font color="red"> Gasping for fresh air </font>

KIMONE THOMPSON, Observer staff reporter
Tuesday, January 02, 2007



Smoke from Friday's fire at the Riverton City dump engulfs the Portmore causeway on Sunday morning. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)







RESIDENTS near the Riverton City waste disposal site on Spanish Town Road have complained of respiratory illnesses caused by the thick smoke that has blanketed their homes since last Thursday night when the first of two fires occurred at the dump.

There was a second fire there on Friday night, the smoke from which has affected people as far away as Red Hills Road in St Andrew and Portmore in St Catherine.

The first fire, according to landfill manager Clive McDonald, was put out the same night it occurred and is suspected to have been caused by people scavenging in the metal cell at the site. The cause of Friday's fire is unknown.
A resident of Cooreville Gardens, located on Washington Boulevard, said she had never seen smoke from the dump so thick or irritating to her bronchial pneumonia.

"I've been sick from morning. I've been wheezing (so) I have to be locking up everywhere," Amy Cridland told the Observer on Sunday, as clouds of smoke hung in the air. "I have seen smoke before, but not like this. It has never affected me this much."

Cridland, who has lived in Cooreville Gardens for almost 30 years, said she has thought of relocating but said her best option was to stay with relatives until the smoke clears.
Everton Francis, another Cooreville resident, has also thought of moving. However, leaving the comfort of his parents' home to pay rent is not a step he can afford to take at the moment - despite the stress of the fires at Riverton.
"It's been killing me (but) mi cyaan do nutten 'bout it," he said. "Everytime it burns, the smell and the smoke affect me a lot. I don't know how many of my cells have been killed, but I don't have the money to move or to pay rent."

McDonald, meanwhile, has said the smoke should start to clear up today or tomorrow.

"We have a time frame of three to seven days (to get things under control), but we should start to see less smoke after the fourth or fifth day (counting from Friday)," he told the Observer by telephone.

"We've made significant improvements since Friday. The fire is under control to some extent, but what we're doing now is trying to smother the smoke by using soil and wetting," he added.

But despite his assurances, people from affected communities - several of whom suffer respiratory disorders - are impatient for the smoke to be gone. Catchris Brown, who lives near to the dump and who is afflicted with sinusitis, is among them.

"I can hardly breathe," she said. "I was so afraid to open my windows this morning when I saw the black smoke. The authorities need to do something now (because) we cyaan tek it no more."

Sharmaine Carty, who lives at Callaloo Bed across the street from the dump, echoed Brown's sentiments.
"It affecting us bad. I have sinusitis and I have been sneezing and coughing," Carty said, adding that a number of her neighbours are experiencing similar symptoms.

In a release issued on Saturday, the health ministry advised residents close to the dump to protect themselves by staying indoors as much as possible. It also advised that they keep doors and windows closed, and avoid hanging laundry outside.

- [email protected]