An air quality study conducted during and after the Riverton city disposal site fire, which blanketed the Corporate Area with smoke for several days last month, has found that elevated levels of certain gases and particulate matter could have resulted in possible health impacts, especially to sensitive groups.
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) released the report Tuesday afternoon.
It said, based on the findings, it is recommending that the associated health effects be provided by the Ministry of Health.
NEPA said samples were taken during the fire and after firefighting activities ended.
The samples were sent to an accredited laboratory in Canada for analysis.
NEPA's report concludes that the fire from the Riverton disposal facility resulted in deteriorated air quality that affected Southern St. Andrew and Kingston, as well as sections of South Eastern St. Catherine.
The areas of greatest exposure included the Three Miles-to-Six Miles thoroughfare, New Haven, Duhaney Park, Cooreville Gardens, Washington Gardens, Patrick City, Pembroke Hall and Olympic Gardens.
The air quality report shows the World Health Organisation's 24-hour average guideline limit for the two types of particulate matter it measured were exceeded.
It said, while it did not exceed the Jamaica Ambient Air Quality Standards limit, the levels recorded are a major cause for concern.
NEPA said Spanish Town Road and its environs have been identified as being at risk and at the monitoring station set up there, the level for one of the types of particulate matter it measured was more than five times the limit set by the WHO during the active fire.
NEPA said marked increases in sulphur dioxide concentrations were recorded at the Spanish Town Road monitoring location, excess nitrogen dioxide was also observed as well as higher than normal concentrations of benzene and toluene.
The NEPA report added that the data from the monitoring sites have since indicated a return to pre-existing ambient air concentrations for the pollutants monitored.
Professor Winston Davidson, head of the School of Public Health at the University of Technology (UTech), has said some of the pollutants highlighted in NEPA's air quality report have very serious health risks.
He said urgent action needs to be taken to prevent recurring exposure to these pollutants.
