BAY MINETTE, Alabama — The Baldwin County Commission is reviewing spikes in arsenic and vinyl chloride detected in Magnolia Sanitary Landfill monitoring stations which is moving southwest outside the landfill site and may cause health risk concerns for area residents.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management noted in a Nov. 17 assessment  “statistically significant” levels of the chemicals, but said it might be a “naturally occuring phenomenon” and seasonal.

During a work session Tuesday in Fairhope, Commissioner Frank Burt said the discovery is a “concern for the public” and additional information will be presented during a Commission meeting Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Bay Minette Administration Building.

Solid Waste Department head Jim Ransom said the readings may be a result of methane from decomposition or derelict asphalt runways from former use as a U.S. Navy outlying field for flight training purposes. He also said the arsenic reading were within normal range, but vinyl chloride has exceeded maximum levels.

Commissioners may approve additional monitoring stations to determine more specific extent and content of the groundwater migration.