Environmental Air Sampling Near Burn Pit and Incinerator Operations at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
Kyle W Blasch1, John E Kolivosky, Jack M Heller
1Scott AFB, Illinois (Dr Blasch), and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (Mr Kolivosky, Dr Heller).
Objective:
This study presents environmental air samples collected at a US military installation with a solid waste disposal facility (SWDF) containing a burn pit from 2005 through 2012 and compared these results with occupational (breathing zone) samples.
Methods:
Particulate matter (PM) environmental samples were collected as part of the installation monitoring program. Service Members in four security positions were monitored for PM and acrolein occupational exposures.
Results:
The highest recorded PM2.5 concentration occurred at the SWDF. A highly populated sampling site, the Bazaar site, had the highest mean PM10, with the SWDF following in second. Acrolein and respirable PM were considerably higher in the breathing zone samples than environmental samples.
Conclusions:
The diversity of results support the concept of a complex environment with multiple polluting sources and changing meteorological and operational conditions.
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