Abstract
Background
An increase in the urban population and the rising demand for food and other essentials perpetuate a rise in the amount of waste being generated daily by each household. In low-income countries, this waste is eventually thrown into open dump sites. It can cause severe impacts on human health and the surrounding environment. This study was aimed at assessing the effect of a solid waste dump site of Teppi town on surrounding soil and river water quality.
Methods
A total of three surface water, one leachate water samples, and four soil samples were collected and were analyzed. Six heavy metals for surface water and leachate samples and four heavy metals for soil samples were measured by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, physical and chemical parameters were analyzed using standard methods. The soil and water data were analyzed statistically using Origin pro version 8.0 computer software packages. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess whether the mean values of heavy metals and physicochemical parameters in soil and water samples varied significantly between distances and location from the dump site, possibilities less than 0.05 (p< 0.05) was considered statistically significant.
Results
pH of soil was slightly basic (pH 8±0.1 up to 8.7±0.21. Similarly, EC was lower in 60 meters (1800±0.5μs/cm) and higher in the other sample sites (3490±0.66-4920±1.04μs/cm). The concentration of heavy metals such as cadmium (0.53±0.01-2.26±0.02 mg/kg), zinc (623.93±0.29-859.41±0.02mg/kg), lead (3.26±0.25-57.560.26mg/kg), and copper (204.06±0.06 337.11±0.01mg/kg) in the sample soils has been found to be higher than Ethiopian EPA and USEPA guideline values. Lead, cadmium, manganese, nickel, copper, and zinc in the leachate water and nickel and manganese in nearby river water, total dissolved solid, BOD5, chemical oxygen demand, and turbidity for both leachate and stream water samples were found to be higher than the Ethiopian EPA and WHO standard guideline values.
Conclusions
The finding suggested that solid waste open dump site adversely affects soil and water quality in the study area and probable source of human health risks via the food chain. The soil in the area requires Phytoremediation technologies. In addition, sanitary landfill is recommended.
Exploring a Waste Dump Site Failure – Possible Causes and Prevention Measures
