Integrated modeling of air pollution dispersion from landfills and waste transportation vehicles using LandGEM and...

This study assesses the impact of municipal solid waste management on ambient air quality in Baghdad, Iraq (2024) by combining the AERMOD dispersion model with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The research focused on major pollutants, including methane (CH₄), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), originating from both Al-Nabai landfill and the city's waste transport fleet. Emissions from the landfill were estimated using the LandGEM model based on site-specific data, while vehicle pollution concentrations were measured using a portable Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. Dispersion modeling revealed maximum concentrations near the landfill, with peak values of 279,670 μg/m³ (CO₂), 102,638 μg/m³ (CH₄), 4381 μg/m³ (NMOCs), and 49.84 μg/m³ (CO). Concentrations decreased by 85.1% within 10 km, although CH₄ and CO₂ remained above background levels beyond 30 km downwind along prevailing northwesterly winds. Vehicle fleet pollution concentrations were highest near transfer stations and major corridors, with peaks of 1386.43 μg/m³ (NO₂), 481.23 μg/m³ (CO), 446.18 μg/m³ (CH₄), and 239.62 μg/m³ (SO₂). Findings highlight the need for a 10 km minimum buffer around landfills and recommend siting future disposal facilities more than 40 km east of Baghdad's urban core. This research provides the first integrated framework combining LandGEM, AERMOD, GIS, and field FTIR data to characterize stationary and mobile waste-related emissions in Iraq, offering critical insights for sustainable urban air quality management.