Residents in the Castaic area near the Chiquita Canyon Landfill are raising alarms about their health, as seven out of fourteen homes on one street have reported cancer diagnoses. Symptoms among neighbors, including headaches, nausea, and breathing difficulties, have sparked concerns that toxic fumes from the landfill may be to blame.
In light of these issues, California Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, accompanied by local officials, visited the landfill site on September 15. They called for stronger actions to protect the community from the harmful emissions, hailing the unpleasant odors as a significant contributor to the rise in local cancer cases.
“I spent a short time in that neighborhood, and I started experiencing some symptoms similar to what many of my neighbors reported,” Schiavo said. “Residents have described feeling headaches, nausea, respiratory issues, eye irritation, and rashes.”
Earlier this year, regulatory authorities indicated that the unpleasant smells had prompted hundreds of complaints from local residents. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) issued orders for remediation, but the situation has shown little improvement. Complaints began surfacing as early as May 2023.
Reports have pointed to the possibility that the toxic fumes are linked to an underground fire at the landfill, which necessitated excavation and relocation of waste. Kathryn Roberts, an attorney with AQMD, mentioned during an August public hearing that although these measures are deemed necessary during emergencies, they can unintentionally exacerbate the odor issue in the short term.
The landfill operator has acknowledged the odors on their website, explaining that the deep burial of waste can lead to abnormal biological or non-biological processes, referred to as landfill reactions. They have committed to working closely with regulatory agencies to address the potential impacts of these reactions.
In a statement, the landfill operator expressed regret for the effects the odors have had on nearby residents, acknowledging their awareness of the situation and pledging efforts to mitigate these impacts.
The company announced that residents participating in community relief programs have received nearly $9 million in compensation to date. Additionally, they have distributed over 1,700 air purifiers to local residents and ensured that classrooms at nearby schools are equipped with carbon filtration systems. Current data and evaluations from multiple scientific experts suggest that emissions from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill are not expected to pose significant short-term or long-term health risks.
