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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 633
ISSN 2229-5518
IJSER © 2014
http://www.ijser.org
Contamination of Soils Around Garbage Dump
case study: the pantang garbage dump
Dr. Francis Achampong.PE1, Atange Selorm Kwasi2, Nkrumah Robertha Sakyiwa2, Reginald Adjetey Anum3.
1. Lecturer/Geotechnical Engineer, Earth Science Department,University of Ghana.achampongf@yahoo.com.
2. Research assistants, Earth Science Department, University of Ghana.
3. Research Officer, Geological/Environmental Engineer, Multigeoconsult Limited.
Abstract: The concentration of heavy metals was studied in the soil samples collected around the Pantang municipal solid waste (MSW)
open dumpsite. This study sought to determine the chemical effects of un-engineered landfills on surrounding soils. Soil samples were
collected on the site, uphill and downhill relative to the garbage dump for laboratory testing and analysis.
The results particularly showed high level of heavy metals such as Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu and Ni. The concentrations of these heavy metals
were above the permissible limit of values for typical range in soils standards from Soil test Farm Consultants Inc. Other compounds such
as SO4
2-
, NH4
+
, % carbon, % Organic matter and Cl
-
were also above the permissible limit of values for typical range in soils.
The presence of heavy metals in soil sample indicates that there is appreciable contamination of the soil by leachate migration from an
open dumping site. However, these pollutant species will continuously migrate and eventually attenuate through the soil strata and have
contaminated the groundwater system (Anum 2012).
Keywords:.contamination,.leachate,.heavy,.metals,.anions,.waste.
——————————  ——————————
Introduction
The rapid increase in volumes of unsorted or
unmanaged solid wastes with the associated risk to
human health is a source of concern. There is also a
steady increase in the cost and logistical difficulties of
municipal solid waste management. This has put
increasing pressures on the infrastructure and
authorities responsible for the management of solid
waste. Landfill or dump spaces are diminishing and
there is difficulty in finding suitable locations and
getting public approval. Large investments are required
for constructing the new landfill facilities. It is therefore
prudent to look for and implement long-term integrated
waste management strategies that ensure a sustainable
approach for waste management services.
Generally, waste could be liquid or solid waste. Both of
which could be hazardous. Liquid and solid waste types
may also be grouped into organic, re-usable and
recyclable waste.
The goals of an engineered landfill are the;
1. Protection of groundwater quality by minimizing
discharge/leakage of leachates from landfill.
2. Protection of air quality and conservation of
energy by installing a landfill gas recovery system
3. Minimizing the impact on adjacent wetlands by
controlling and diverting or impounding surface
runoff
To accomplish these goals, the “ideal” landfill site
should be defined in terms of its geologic and
hydrogeologic conditions such as deep soils with low
hydraulic conductivity and deep occurrence of
groundwater. Sometimes nontechnical considerations
such as “not in my backyard” but any site located in
someone else’s town rules (Cameron, 1989)
The Pantang-Abokobi garbage dump operated by
Zoomlion LLC; a waste management company, has
been operational since 1992 and receives sufficient
rainfalls with high infiltration rate due to numerous
fractures present in the weathered rocks posing great
danger hence this study has been carried out to assess
the soil contamination around the local dump area
where the municipal solid wastes have been disposed
for about 22 years.
Objectives and Scope
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The aim of this work was to determine the chemical
effects of unengineered landfills on surrounding soils.
The following objectives were necessary to achieve this,
I. Determination of the concentration of some
chemical species in the surrounding soil.
II. Determination of whether or not the
surrounding soils were contaminated and to
what extent.
III. Comparison the concentration of these chemical
species to Soiltest farm Consultants Inc. normal
concentration range in soils.
To accomplish these objectives, soil sample were taken
uphill, downhill and on site at the landfill and were
tested in the laboratory.
Study Area
Pantang is a town located in the south-eastern part of
Ghana, near the capital Accra. It is about 32 km away
from the capital Accra. It lies within Latitude 5.68° and
Longitude -0.17°. Second class roads are found within
Pantang, making accessibility in the area fairly good.
The study area falls within the Ga East district, one of
the ten districts of Greater Accra region (www.ghana
district.com).
The location of the Pantang garbage dump is shown in
the topographical map below (Fig. 1).
Geology of the Site
Pantang falls within the Togo structural unit of the Pan
African Mobile Belt. Rocks in the Togo consist of
strongly tectonised phyllites, quartzites, and
serpentinites trending northeast. (Kesse, 1985). The area
was covered by laterites which may be as a result of
weathering of the exposed rocks of the Togo.
Hydrogeology
Due to the highly consolidated nature of the rocks of the
Togo series, groundwater occurrence is limited to areas
where fractures and deep seated weathering have
occurred which provide ingresses for recharge and
groundwater storage. Groundwater occurrence is
therefore dependent on the occurrence and
pervasiveness of these secondary permeabilities. The
success rate of drilling boreholes through the Togo
formation is generally high. This is especially so in areas
where the weathered zone is sufficiently thick to hold
substantial quantities of water. (Yidana et al, 2011).
Methodology
Site Selection
The Pantang garbage dump (Fig. 2) with a surface area
of about 2063m2 was selected as a case study since it is
the principal garbage dump in the Greater Accra Region
managed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
Leachate typically changes in composition as the
material degrades, therefore the age of the garbage
dump is an important consideration in determination of
the toxicity of leachate at the garbage dump. The
selected site has been in place long enough (since 1992)
to have possibly affected groundwater and soil beneath
and around the garbage dump. The site was chosen due
to the fact that it experiences quite considerable amount
of rainfall and infiltration rates were sufficient to
produce an abundance of leachate which may be
present in the surrounding soil.
Sampling Procedure
For purposes of comparison between samples taken
uphill, onsite and downhill, six holes to drilled on and
around the garbage dump (two drill holes at each
location) to give representative experimental data.
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All sampling was done in a straight line at a 50m
interval at a depth of 30cm with a hand-held
adjustable auger with a hollow base to collect soft
sediment from the ground.
The samples were collected in labelled sample
bags. These samples were labelled as UH01 and
UH02 for uphill samples, OS1 and OS2 for onsite
samples whiles the samples from downhill were
labelled DH01 and DH02.
Testing of Physical Parameters
The physical parameters such as acidity(pH) (Fig.
3), electrical conductivity (EC) (Fig. 4) and
temperature of the soil samples were taken and
the results are tabulated in Table 1. The pH meter,
conductivity meter (Hanna meter) and a digital
thermometer were the instruments used for the
readings respectively.
Testing of Chemical Species
Properly stored samples for chemical analyses
were filtered, the digests and distilled water
extracts were then prepared by weighing 10g of
soil and mixed with 100 ml of distilled water (10:1
liquid to solid ratio) which was shaked in a
mechanical shaker for 3hrs for testing at the
Ecolab and Soil Science Laboratory of the
University of Ghana using an AAS. The chemical
parameters measured included heavy metals
such as Fe, ZN, Pb, Mn, Ni and Cu. Other
chemical species tested for included SO42-, NH4+,
% carbon, % Organic matter and Cl- levels of the
soil samples.
Instruments used for the chemical analyses were
Standard turbidimetric method, DR2011 model
spectrometer, Flame photometer and Atomic
absorption spectrometer (model Perlin Eimer
Analyst 400). The results of the chemical analyses
are tabulated in tables 3-5.
Results
Table 1. Showing soil condition and results of physical parameters of Soil samples.
UH02 UH01 OS01 DH01 OS02 DH02
Longitude -0.195056 -0.196 -0.197 -0.198111 -0.198389 -0.200389
Latitude 5.710083 5.709083 5.708556 5.707667 5.706639 5.706083
Sampling depth (cm) 30 30 30 30 30 30
Soil type sandy loam sandy loam loamy clay sandy loam sand clay
Colour reddish
brown
dark brown dark brown yellowish
brown
cream dark brown
Texture medium
grain
medium
grain
sticky &
medium
grain
medium
grain
medium
grained
very fined
grained
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Sample condition moist moist moist moist moist wet
Land use commercial residential garbage
dump
residential garbage
dump
residential
pH 5.61 5.7 7.63 3.62 5.41 2.11
EC (uScm-1 at 1000) 100 150 290 70 360 390
Temperature (°c) 25.8 25.8 26.1 26.1 25.9 25.9
Table 2. Showing Typical range of concentration in soil (Soiltest farm Consultants Inc.)
PARAMETER UNITS TYPICAL RANGE IN SIOL
Nitrate ppm-N (mg/kg) 2 to 75
Ammonium ppm-N (mg/kg) 1 to 20
Sulphate ppm-S (mg/kg) 15 to 150
Organic matter % 0.1 to 12
Zinc ppm-Zn (mg/kg) 0.1 to 20
Manganese ppm-Mn (mg/kg) 0.1 to 40
Copper ppm-Cu (mg/kg) 0.1 to 10
Iron ppm-Fe (mg/kg) 0.1 to 100
pH
Electrical Conductivity
Chloride
Nickel
Lead
s.u
µScm-1
ppm-Cl (mg/kg)
ppm-Ni (mg/kg)
ppm-Pb (mg/kg)
5 to 9
136
NA
0.000037
0.000045
Table 3. Showing AAS readings for Heavy Metals
SAMPLE ID Iron (Fe) Zinc (Zn) Manganese (Mn) Lead (Pb) Copper (Cu) Nickel (Ni)
UH02 1.66 0.576 0.923 0.103 0.061 0.19
UH01 1.649 0.264 0.115 ND 0.186 0.192
OS01 1.662 7.234 3.475 0.162 0.493 0.248
DH01 1.653 0.448 0.185 0.068 0.073 0.178
OS02 1.655 0.577 0.435 0.202 0.113 0.166
NA = Not Applicable
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DH02 1.654 0.332 0.266 0.005 0.037 0.172
Table 4. Showing mass of Heavy Metals
MASS OF HEAVY METAL (mg/kg)
SAMPLE ID Iron (Fe) Zinc (Zn) Manganese (Mn) Lead (Pb) Copper (Cu) Nickel (Ni)
UH02 166 57.6 92.3 10.3 6.1 19
UH01 164.9 26.4 11.5 ND 18.6 19.2
OS01 166.2 723.4 347.5 16.2 49.3 24.8
DH01 165.3 44.8 18.5 6.8 7.3 17.8
OS02 165.5 57.7 43.5 20.2 11.3 16.6
DH02 165.4 33.2 26.6 0.5 3.7 17.2
Table 5. Showing results for Other Chemical compounds
SAMPLE
ID
Carbon % Carbon % Organic Matter Chloride (mg/kg) Ammonium
(mg/kg)
Nitrate
(mg/kg)
UH02 49 0.3270204 0.56378317 5.99814 727.2 482.4
UH01 47.7 0.53429292 0.921120994 3.99876 633.6 475.2
OS01 35.4 2.49540984 4.302086564 11.99648 583.2 288
DH01 48.2 0.45457272 0.783683369 5.99814 640.8 345.6
OS02 45 0.964782 1.663284168 13.99566 640.8 216
DH02 48.2 0.45457272 0.783683369 15.99504 799.2 266.4
ND = Not Detected
ND = Not Detected
Fig. 3 Variation of
pH in soil samples
Standard = 5-9
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UH02, 5.61
UH01, 5.7
OS01, 7.63
DH01, 3.62
OS02, 5.41
DH02, 2.11
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
pH
Sample Points
pH
pH
UH02, 100
UH01, 150
OS01, 290
DH01, 70
OS02, 360
DH02, 390
0
100
200
300
400
500
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
EC(uScm-1at1000)
Sample Points
EC
EC
UH02, [Y VALUE]
UH01, [Y VALUE]
OS01, [Y VALUE]
DH01, [Y VALUE]
OS02, [Y VALUE] DH02, [Y VALUE]
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration(mg/kg)
Location
Copper (Cu)
CUPPER(Cu)
Fig. 4 Variation
of EC in soil
samples
Standard = 136
Fig. 5 Variation of
Copper
concentration in soil
samples
Standard = 0.1-10
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UH02, [Y VALUE]
UH01, [Y VALUE]
OS01, [Y VALUE]
DH01, [Y VALUE]
OS02, [Y VALUE]
DH02, [Y VALUE]
164.8
165
165.2
165.4
165.6
165.8
166
166.2
166.4
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration(mg/kg)
Location
Iron (Fe)
IRON(Fe)
UH02, [Y VALUE]
UH01, [Y VALUE]
OS01, [Y VALUE]
DH01, [Y VALUE]
OS02, [Y VALUE]DH02, [Y VALUE]
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration(mg/kg)
Location
Manganese (Mn)
MANGANESE(Mn)
UH02, [Y VALUE]
UH01, ND
OS01, [Y VALUE]
DH01, [Y VALUE]
OS02, [Y VALUE]
DH02, [Y VALUE]0
5
10
15
20
25
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration(mg/kg)
Locatiion
Lead (Pb)
LEAD (Pb)
Fig. 6 Variation of
Iron concentration in
soil samples
Standard = 0.1-100
Fig. 7 Variation of
Lead concentration in
soil samples
Standard = 0.000045
Fig. 8 Variation of
Manganese
concentration in
soil samples
Standard = 0.1-40
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UH02, 19
UH01, 19.2
OS01, 24.8
DH01, 17.8
OS02, 16.6
DH02, 17.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration(mg/kg)
Location
Nickel (Ni)
NICKEL (Ni)
UH02, [Y VALUE]
UH01, [Y VALUE]
OS01, [Y VALUE]
DH01, [Y VALUE]
OS02, [Y VALUE]
DH02, [Y VALUE]
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration(mg/kg)
Location
Zinc (Zn)
ZINC(Zn)
Fig. 9 Variation of
Nickel concentration
in soil samples
Standard = 0.000037
Fig. 10 Variation of
Zinc concentration
in soil samples
Standard = 0.1-20 IJSER
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UH02, 727.2
UH01, 633.6
OS01, 583.2
OS02, 640.8
DH01, 640.8
DH02, 799.2
UH02, 482.4
UH01, 475.2
OS01, 288
OS02, 216
DH01, 345.6
DH02, 266.4
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration(mg/kg)
Location
Ammonium and Nitrate
AMMONIA(mg/kg)
NITRATE(mg/kg)
UH02, 5.99814
UH01, 3.99876
OS01, 11.99648
OS02, 13.99566
DH01, 5.99814
DH02, 15.99504
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Concentration(mg/kg)
Sample Points
Chloride (mg/kg)
CHLORINE(mg/kg)
Fig. 11 Variation of
Ammonium and
Nitrate concentration
in soil samples
NH4
+
Standard = 1-20
NO3
-
Standard = 2-75
Fig. 12 Variation of
Chloride
concentration in soil
samples
Standard = NA
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UH02, [Y VALUE]
UH01, [Y VALUE]
OS01, [Y VALUE]
OS02, [Y VALUE]
DHO1, [Y VALUE]
DH02, [Y VALUE]
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Carbon(%)
Axis Title
% Carbon
%CARBON
Fig. 13 Variation of
percent carbon in
soil samples
Standard = 0.1-12
Fig 14. Distribution of
Cu in study area
Fig 15. Distribution of
Ni in study area
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Fig 16. Distribution of
Mn in study area
Fig 17. Distribution of
Zn in study area
Fig 18. Distribution of
Pb in study area
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Fig 19. Distribution of
Fe in study area
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Discussion
Contamination of heavy metals in the
environment is of major concern because of their
toxicity is a threat to human life and the
environment (Purves 1985). Quite an amount of
research on heavy metal contamination in soils
have concluded that the sources of these are
from various anthropogenic sources such as
industrial and municipal wastes (Gibson and
Farmer 1983; Olajire and Ayodele 1998. In this
study, the concentrations of heavy metal present
in the collected soil samples were reported in
Table 2.
pH Variance
pH is a measure of [H+] and [OH-] in a solution.
Thus, acidic soils have the potential to
contaminate groundwater making it unsafe.
The soil samples downhill were more acidic
probably due to the downhill movement of
leachate in the soil through secondary
permeability via fractures. Other extraneous
factors which could have affected the pH
include dissolved CO2 in rainwater seeping into
the ground. The difference in pH of the
downhill samples compared to the uphill
samples could be as a result of the highly
alkaline leachate contaminating surrounding
soils by flowing from the landfill to the downhill
points.
EC Variance.
Electrical conductivity is proportionally
dependent on the amount of mobile cations
present in solution. From table 1 and figs. 3 and
4, it is observed that pH and EC have a
somewhat inverse relation, in that, the most
acidic samples recorded corresponding high
values for EC. This could be attributed to the
high concentration of metallic ions in the
samples due to the downhill movement of
leachate in the soil. EC readings increased
downhill in the order of magnitude
DH01˃UH02˃UH01˃OS01˃OS02˃DH02.
However, the low EC reading at DH01 could be
as a result as high lateritic clay soil at the
location which did not allow for the seepage of
leachate into the subsoil as effectively as the
other locations.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals are typically released by acidic
pH. Usually these heavy metals are found at
moderate concentration levels in municipal
landfill soils (Jensen et al. 1999). The heavy
metals detected in distilled water digests were
Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn and Ni.
Uphill Location (UH01 & UH02)
Samples obtained from uphill location showed
high concentration levels outside the range
expected in typical soils with the exception of
Mn (in UH01) and Cu (in UH02). UH02
generally had higher concentration levels that
UH01, the low Cu read in the UH02 and Mn
read in UH02 could be an indication that the soil
at those locations have not been contaminated
with regards to these two heavy metals.
Comparatively, the uphill samples had lower
concentrations with regards to the other
sampling locations within the project.
Onsite Location (OS01 & OS02)
Chemical analysis revealed that both samples
were contaminated with values very far above
the admissible range for typical soils. Heavy
metals readings are consistent with location, due
to the presence of garbage dumps on OS01 and
OS02. OS02, which was an old garbage dump
had lower values compared to the samples from
OS01, this could be because, the old sire no
longer generates leachate which may
contaminate the soil and the leachate produced
during its operational lifespan may have
possibly leached downward beyond the
sampling depth. High values in OS01 are also
consistent with the presence of an active and
operational garbage dump with no leachate trap
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hence the seepage of leachate into the
subsurface.
Downhill Location (DH01 & DH02)
Results for DH01 and DH02 showed values far
outside the permissible range of values for
heavy metals in soils with the exception of Mn
and Cu at both locations which could have been
filtered out during leachate movement within
the soil. Cu was however high but within the
range but too to ignore. These high values in the
downhill further suggest that the movement of
the leachate contaminating the soil is primarily
due to gravity in a downhill motion.
Ni at Study area
The presence of Ni in the study area is of grave
concern since it is usually associated with
sedimentary rocks. The geology of the study
area is one of a metamorphosed terrain. Ni
naturally has a strong affinity for Fe which it
substitutes for and sometimes occurs as oxides
and silicates within lateritic clay soils as a result
of prolonged weathering of parent rocks in
tropical climates.
Other Compounds
SO42-, NO3-, NH4+, Cl- and % Organic matter
were tested for in the sample collected. SO42-
and NO3 are of major concern since construction
works are ongoing very close (as close as 5m) to
the garbage dump because of their reaction with
concrete and cement in construction which turns
to weaken structures. Most of these species are
found in fertilizers, but their excess in the soil
can cause problems.
The concentration of SO42-, NO3-, NH4+ and Cl-
high in the uphill samples. The higher levels in
UH01 compared to UH02 could be attributed
the presence of a farm close to the sampling
point which might have already contaminated
the soil with excessive use of fertilizers on the
soil. However, OS02 recorded higher values for
these chemical species than OS01 as did DH02
than DH01. The concentration of these species
are in increasing magnitude of
OS01˃UH02˃DH01˃UH01˃OS02˃DH02. High
consistent values for OS02 and DH02 could be
associated to their location down gradient to the
garbage site and as such the concentration of the
species at these locations through gravity
movement of leachate.
Percent organic matter levels in all the soil
samples were within the typical range in soil.
Conclusion
The indiscriminate disposal of MSW without
covering is considered a dangerous practice in
integrated waste management at the global
level.
The presence of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb,
Mn and Ni) in soil sample indicates that there is
appreciable contamination of the soil by leachate
migration. This is indicated that the migration
and distribution of the contaminants species
which may still localized and not diffused with
a wide area. Soils immediately around the
garbage dump further showed high
concentration levels of SO42-, NO3- and NH4+
than the typical range in soils.
As water infiltrates/percolates downwards into
the soil it carries along soluble element
dissolved in it. Thus, it could be said that soils
below the sampling depth (30cm) might have
higher concentration levels of these chemical
species due to leaching provided the secondary
permeabilities responsible for leachate transport
are persistent. This is based on the fact that top
soils are prone to leaching. However, there is
also a possibility that the concentration of these
chemical species may gradually attenuate as
they travel deeper into the subsurface as a result
of filtration through the soil strata.
Recommendation
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From the heavy metal concentration present in
the soil samples, it is believed that Pantang open
dumping site is going to cause environmental
problems in both short and long term and this
site should be renewed. Hence, the active
dumping site should be closed down
immediately and an alternate engineered
landfill be constructed.
It is therefore recommended that a capped
dumping site (engineered landfill) which makes
provision for a leachate collection system and
gas monitoring system (Allen 2001) be
constructed. The provision of liner in the landfill
protects the surrounding environment including
soil, groundwater and surface water by
containing leachate generated within the
landfill, controlling ingress of groundwater and
assisting in the control of the migration of
landfill gas (Koerner and Soong 2000). Hence,
the leachate migration through soil and the
obnoxious odor can be avoided. The integrated
solid waste management system for open
dumping has to be time-honored and new
sanitary landfill sites have to be constructed
(Banar et al. 2007, 2009).
Acknowledgments
We sincerely thank Almighty God, The
Department of Earth Science, Multigeoconsult
LTD. and ECOLAB of the University of Ghana
for support rendered to carry out the research
work. We also thank Zoomlion for the
permission to carry out the studies at the open
dumpsites.
References
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Contamination of Soils Around Garbage Dump

  • 1. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 633 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org Contamination of Soils Around Garbage Dump case study: the pantang garbage dump Dr. Francis Achampong.PE1, Atange Selorm Kwasi2, Nkrumah Robertha Sakyiwa2, Reginald Adjetey Anum3. 1. Lecturer/Geotechnical Engineer, Earth Science Department,University of Ghana.achampongf@yahoo.com. 2. Research assistants, Earth Science Department, University of Ghana. 3. Research Officer, Geological/Environmental Engineer, Multigeoconsult Limited. Abstract: The concentration of heavy metals was studied in the soil samples collected around the Pantang municipal solid waste (MSW) open dumpsite. This study sought to determine the chemical effects of un-engineered landfills on surrounding soils. Soil samples were collected on the site, uphill and downhill relative to the garbage dump for laboratory testing and analysis. The results particularly showed high level of heavy metals such as Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu and Ni. The concentrations of these heavy metals were above the permissible limit of values for typical range in soils standards from Soil test Farm Consultants Inc. Other compounds such as SO4 2- , NH4 + , % carbon, % Organic matter and Cl - were also above the permissible limit of values for typical range in soils. The presence of heavy metals in soil sample indicates that there is appreciable contamination of the soil by leachate migration from an open dumping site. However, these pollutant species will continuously migrate and eventually attenuate through the soil strata and have contaminated the groundwater system (Anum 2012). Keywords:.contamination,.leachate,.heavy,.metals,.anions,.waste. ——————————  —————————— Introduction The rapid increase in volumes of unsorted or unmanaged solid wastes with the associated risk to human health is a source of concern. There is also a steady increase in the cost and logistical difficulties of municipal solid waste management. This has put increasing pressures on the infrastructure and authorities responsible for the management of solid waste. Landfill or dump spaces are diminishing and there is difficulty in finding suitable locations and getting public approval. Large investments are required for constructing the new landfill facilities. It is therefore prudent to look for and implement long-term integrated waste management strategies that ensure a sustainable approach for waste management services. Generally, waste could be liquid or solid waste. Both of which could be hazardous. Liquid and solid waste types may also be grouped into organic, re-usable and recyclable waste. The goals of an engineered landfill are the; 1. Protection of groundwater quality by minimizing discharge/leakage of leachates from landfill. 2. Protection of air quality and conservation of energy by installing a landfill gas recovery system 3. Minimizing the impact on adjacent wetlands by controlling and diverting or impounding surface runoff To accomplish these goals, the “ideal” landfill site should be defined in terms of its geologic and hydrogeologic conditions such as deep soils with low hydraulic conductivity and deep occurrence of groundwater. Sometimes nontechnical considerations such as “not in my backyard” but any site located in someone else’s town rules (Cameron, 1989) The Pantang-Abokobi garbage dump operated by Zoomlion LLC; a waste management company, has been operational since 1992 and receives sufficient rainfalls with high infiltration rate due to numerous fractures present in the weathered rocks posing great danger hence this study has been carried out to assess the soil contamination around the local dump area where the municipal solid wastes have been disposed for about 22 years. Objectives and Scope IJSER
  • 2. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 634 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org The aim of this work was to determine the chemical effects of unengineered landfills on surrounding soils. The following objectives were necessary to achieve this, I. Determination of the concentration of some chemical species in the surrounding soil. II. Determination of whether or not the surrounding soils were contaminated and to what extent. III. Comparison the concentration of these chemical species to Soiltest farm Consultants Inc. normal concentration range in soils. To accomplish these objectives, soil sample were taken uphill, downhill and on site at the landfill and were tested in the laboratory. Study Area Pantang is a town located in the south-eastern part of Ghana, near the capital Accra. It is about 32 km away from the capital Accra. It lies within Latitude 5.68° and Longitude -0.17°. Second class roads are found within Pantang, making accessibility in the area fairly good. The study area falls within the Ga East district, one of the ten districts of Greater Accra region (www.ghana district.com). The location of the Pantang garbage dump is shown in the topographical map below (Fig. 1). Geology of the Site Pantang falls within the Togo structural unit of the Pan African Mobile Belt. Rocks in the Togo consist of strongly tectonised phyllites, quartzites, and serpentinites trending northeast. (Kesse, 1985). The area was covered by laterites which may be as a result of weathering of the exposed rocks of the Togo. Hydrogeology Due to the highly consolidated nature of the rocks of the Togo series, groundwater occurrence is limited to areas where fractures and deep seated weathering have occurred which provide ingresses for recharge and groundwater storage. Groundwater occurrence is therefore dependent on the occurrence and pervasiveness of these secondary permeabilities. The success rate of drilling boreholes through the Togo formation is generally high. This is especially so in areas where the weathered zone is sufficiently thick to hold substantial quantities of water. (Yidana et al, 2011). Methodology Site Selection The Pantang garbage dump (Fig. 2) with a surface area of about 2063m2 was selected as a case study since it is the principal garbage dump in the Greater Accra Region managed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited. Leachate typically changes in composition as the material degrades, therefore the age of the garbage dump is an important consideration in determination of the toxicity of leachate at the garbage dump. The selected site has been in place long enough (since 1992) to have possibly affected groundwater and soil beneath and around the garbage dump. The site was chosen due to the fact that it experiences quite considerable amount of rainfall and infiltration rates were sufficient to produce an abundance of leachate which may be present in the surrounding soil. Sampling Procedure For purposes of comparison between samples taken uphill, onsite and downhill, six holes to drilled on and around the garbage dump (two drill holes at each location) to give representative experimental data. IJSER
  • 3. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 2 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org All sampling was done in a straight line at a 50m interval at a depth of 30cm with a hand-held adjustable auger with a hollow base to collect soft sediment from the ground. The samples were collected in labelled sample bags. These samples were labelled as UH01 and UH02 for uphill samples, OS1 and OS2 for onsite samples whiles the samples from downhill were labelled DH01 and DH02. Testing of Physical Parameters The physical parameters such as acidity(pH) (Fig. 3), electrical conductivity (EC) (Fig. 4) and temperature of the soil samples were taken and the results are tabulated in Table 1. The pH meter, conductivity meter (Hanna meter) and a digital thermometer were the instruments used for the readings respectively. Testing of Chemical Species Properly stored samples for chemical analyses were filtered, the digests and distilled water extracts were then prepared by weighing 10g of soil and mixed with 100 ml of distilled water (10:1 liquid to solid ratio) which was shaked in a mechanical shaker for 3hrs for testing at the Ecolab and Soil Science Laboratory of the University of Ghana using an AAS. The chemical parameters measured included heavy metals such as Fe, ZN, Pb, Mn, Ni and Cu. Other chemical species tested for included SO42-, NH4+, % carbon, % Organic matter and Cl- levels of the soil samples. Instruments used for the chemical analyses were Standard turbidimetric method, DR2011 model spectrometer, Flame photometer and Atomic absorption spectrometer (model Perlin Eimer Analyst 400). The results of the chemical analyses are tabulated in tables 3-5. Results Table 1. Showing soil condition and results of physical parameters of Soil samples. UH02 UH01 OS01 DH01 OS02 DH02 Longitude -0.195056 -0.196 -0.197 -0.198111 -0.198389 -0.200389 Latitude 5.710083 5.709083 5.708556 5.707667 5.706639 5.706083 Sampling depth (cm) 30 30 30 30 30 30 Soil type sandy loam sandy loam loamy clay sandy loam sand clay Colour reddish brown dark brown dark brown yellowish brown cream dark brown Texture medium grain medium grain sticky & medium grain medium grain medium grained very fined grained IJSER
  • 4. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 636 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org Sample condition moist moist moist moist moist wet Land use commercial residential garbage dump residential garbage dump residential pH 5.61 5.7 7.63 3.62 5.41 2.11 EC (uScm-1 at 1000) 100 150 290 70 360 390 Temperature (°c) 25.8 25.8 26.1 26.1 25.9 25.9 Table 2. Showing Typical range of concentration in soil (Soiltest farm Consultants Inc.) PARAMETER UNITS TYPICAL RANGE IN SIOL Nitrate ppm-N (mg/kg) 2 to 75 Ammonium ppm-N (mg/kg) 1 to 20 Sulphate ppm-S (mg/kg) 15 to 150 Organic matter % 0.1 to 12 Zinc ppm-Zn (mg/kg) 0.1 to 20 Manganese ppm-Mn (mg/kg) 0.1 to 40 Copper ppm-Cu (mg/kg) 0.1 to 10 Iron ppm-Fe (mg/kg) 0.1 to 100 pH Electrical Conductivity Chloride Nickel Lead s.u µScm-1 ppm-Cl (mg/kg) ppm-Ni (mg/kg) ppm-Pb (mg/kg) 5 to 9 136 NA 0.000037 0.000045 Table 3. Showing AAS readings for Heavy Metals SAMPLE ID Iron (Fe) Zinc (Zn) Manganese (Mn) Lead (Pb) Copper (Cu) Nickel (Ni) UH02 1.66 0.576 0.923 0.103 0.061 0.19 UH01 1.649 0.264 0.115 ND 0.186 0.192 OS01 1.662 7.234 3.475 0.162 0.493 0.248 DH01 1.653 0.448 0.185 0.068 0.073 0.178 OS02 1.655 0.577 0.435 0.202 0.113 0.166 NA = Not Applicable IJSER
  • 5. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 637 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org DH02 1.654 0.332 0.266 0.005 0.037 0.172 Table 4. Showing mass of Heavy Metals MASS OF HEAVY METAL (mg/kg) SAMPLE ID Iron (Fe) Zinc (Zn) Manganese (Mn) Lead (Pb) Copper (Cu) Nickel (Ni) UH02 166 57.6 92.3 10.3 6.1 19 UH01 164.9 26.4 11.5 ND 18.6 19.2 OS01 166.2 723.4 347.5 16.2 49.3 24.8 DH01 165.3 44.8 18.5 6.8 7.3 17.8 OS02 165.5 57.7 43.5 20.2 11.3 16.6 DH02 165.4 33.2 26.6 0.5 3.7 17.2 Table 5. Showing results for Other Chemical compounds SAMPLE ID Carbon % Carbon % Organic Matter Chloride (mg/kg) Ammonium (mg/kg) Nitrate (mg/kg) UH02 49 0.3270204 0.56378317 5.99814 727.2 482.4 UH01 47.7 0.53429292 0.921120994 3.99876 633.6 475.2 OS01 35.4 2.49540984 4.302086564 11.99648 583.2 288 DH01 48.2 0.45457272 0.783683369 5.99814 640.8 345.6 OS02 45 0.964782 1.663284168 13.99566 640.8 216 DH02 48.2 0.45457272 0.783683369 15.99504 799.2 266.4 ND = Not Detected ND = Not Detected Fig. 3 Variation of pH in soil samples Standard = 5-9 IJSER
  • 6. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 638 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org UH02, 5.61 UH01, 5.7 OS01, 7.63 DH01, 3.62 OS02, 5.41 DH02, 2.11 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 pH Sample Points pH pH UH02, 100 UH01, 150 OS01, 290 DH01, 70 OS02, 360 DH02, 390 0 100 200 300 400 500 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EC(uScm-1at1000) Sample Points EC EC UH02, [Y VALUE] UH01, [Y VALUE] OS01, [Y VALUE] DH01, [Y VALUE] OS02, [Y VALUE] DH02, [Y VALUE] 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Concentration(mg/kg) Location Copper (Cu) CUPPER(Cu) Fig. 4 Variation of EC in soil samples Standard = 136 Fig. 5 Variation of Copper concentration in soil samples Standard = 0.1-10 IJSER
  • 7. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 639 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org UH02, [Y VALUE] UH01, [Y VALUE] OS01, [Y VALUE] DH01, [Y VALUE] OS02, [Y VALUE] DH02, [Y VALUE] 164.8 165 165.2 165.4 165.6 165.8 166 166.2 166.4 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Concentration(mg/kg) Location Iron (Fe) IRON(Fe) UH02, [Y VALUE] UH01, [Y VALUE] OS01, [Y VALUE] DH01, [Y VALUE] OS02, [Y VALUE]DH02, [Y VALUE] 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Concentration(mg/kg) Location Manganese (Mn) MANGANESE(Mn) UH02, [Y VALUE] UH01, ND OS01, [Y VALUE] DH01, [Y VALUE] OS02, [Y VALUE] DH02, [Y VALUE]0 5 10 15 20 25 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Concentration(mg/kg) Locatiion Lead (Pb) LEAD (Pb) Fig. 6 Variation of Iron concentration in soil samples Standard = 0.1-100 Fig. 7 Variation of Lead concentration in soil samples Standard = 0.000045 Fig. 8 Variation of Manganese concentration in soil samples Standard = 0.1-40 IJSER
  • 8. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 640 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org UH02, 19 UH01, 19.2 OS01, 24.8 DH01, 17.8 OS02, 16.6 DH02, 17.2 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Concentration(mg/kg) Location Nickel (Ni) NICKEL (Ni) UH02, [Y VALUE] UH01, [Y VALUE] OS01, [Y VALUE] DH01, [Y VALUE] OS02, [Y VALUE] DH02, [Y VALUE] 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Concentration(mg/kg) Location Zinc (Zn) ZINC(Zn) Fig. 9 Variation of Nickel concentration in soil samples Standard = 0.000037 Fig. 10 Variation of Zinc concentration in soil samples Standard = 0.1-20 IJSER
  • 9. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 641 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org UH02, 727.2 UH01, 633.6 OS01, 583.2 OS02, 640.8 DH01, 640.8 DH02, 799.2 UH02, 482.4 UH01, 475.2 OS01, 288 OS02, 216 DH01, 345.6 DH02, 266.4 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Concentration(mg/kg) Location Ammonium and Nitrate AMMONIA(mg/kg) NITRATE(mg/kg) UH02, 5.99814 UH01, 3.99876 OS01, 11.99648 OS02, 13.99566 DH01, 5.99814 DH02, 15.99504 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Concentration(mg/kg) Sample Points Chloride (mg/kg) CHLORINE(mg/kg) Fig. 11 Variation of Ammonium and Nitrate concentration in soil samples NH4 + Standard = 1-20 NO3 - Standard = 2-75 Fig. 12 Variation of Chloride concentration in soil samples Standard = NA IJSER
  • 10. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 642 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org UH02, [Y VALUE] UH01, [Y VALUE] OS01, [Y VALUE] OS02, [Y VALUE] DHO1, [Y VALUE] DH02, [Y VALUE] 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Carbon(%) Axis Title % Carbon %CARBON Fig. 13 Variation of percent carbon in soil samples Standard = 0.1-12 Fig 14. Distribution of Cu in study area Fig 15. Distribution of Ni in study area IJSER
  • 11. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 643 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org Fig 16. Distribution of Mn in study area Fig 17. Distribution of Zn in study area Fig 18. Distribution of Pb in study area IJSER
  • 12. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 644 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org Fig 19. Distribution of Fe in study area IJSER
  • 13. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 645 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org Discussion Contamination of heavy metals in the environment is of major concern because of their toxicity is a threat to human life and the environment (Purves 1985). Quite an amount of research on heavy metal contamination in soils have concluded that the sources of these are from various anthropogenic sources such as industrial and municipal wastes (Gibson and Farmer 1983; Olajire and Ayodele 1998. In this study, the concentrations of heavy metal present in the collected soil samples were reported in Table 2. pH Variance pH is a measure of [H+] and [OH-] in a solution. Thus, acidic soils have the potential to contaminate groundwater making it unsafe. The soil samples downhill were more acidic probably due to the downhill movement of leachate in the soil through secondary permeability via fractures. Other extraneous factors which could have affected the pH include dissolved CO2 in rainwater seeping into the ground. The difference in pH of the downhill samples compared to the uphill samples could be as a result of the highly alkaline leachate contaminating surrounding soils by flowing from the landfill to the downhill points. EC Variance. Electrical conductivity is proportionally dependent on the amount of mobile cations present in solution. From table 1 and figs. 3 and 4, it is observed that pH and EC have a somewhat inverse relation, in that, the most acidic samples recorded corresponding high values for EC. This could be attributed to the high concentration of metallic ions in the samples due to the downhill movement of leachate in the soil. EC readings increased downhill in the order of magnitude DH01˃UH02˃UH01˃OS01˃OS02˃DH02. However, the low EC reading at DH01 could be as a result as high lateritic clay soil at the location which did not allow for the seepage of leachate into the subsoil as effectively as the other locations. Heavy Metals Heavy metals are typically released by acidic pH. Usually these heavy metals are found at moderate concentration levels in municipal landfill soils (Jensen et al. 1999). The heavy metals detected in distilled water digests were Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn and Ni. Uphill Location (UH01 & UH02) Samples obtained from uphill location showed high concentration levels outside the range expected in typical soils with the exception of Mn (in UH01) and Cu (in UH02). UH02 generally had higher concentration levels that UH01, the low Cu read in the UH02 and Mn read in UH02 could be an indication that the soil at those locations have not been contaminated with regards to these two heavy metals. Comparatively, the uphill samples had lower concentrations with regards to the other sampling locations within the project. Onsite Location (OS01 & OS02) Chemical analysis revealed that both samples were contaminated with values very far above the admissible range for typical soils. Heavy metals readings are consistent with location, due to the presence of garbage dumps on OS01 and OS02. OS02, which was an old garbage dump had lower values compared to the samples from OS01, this could be because, the old sire no longer generates leachate which may contaminate the soil and the leachate produced during its operational lifespan may have possibly leached downward beyond the sampling depth. High values in OS01 are also consistent with the presence of an active and operational garbage dump with no leachate trap IJSER
  • 14. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 646 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org hence the seepage of leachate into the subsurface. Downhill Location (DH01 & DH02) Results for DH01 and DH02 showed values far outside the permissible range of values for heavy metals in soils with the exception of Mn and Cu at both locations which could have been filtered out during leachate movement within the soil. Cu was however high but within the range but too to ignore. These high values in the downhill further suggest that the movement of the leachate contaminating the soil is primarily due to gravity in a downhill motion. Ni at Study area The presence of Ni in the study area is of grave concern since it is usually associated with sedimentary rocks. The geology of the study area is one of a metamorphosed terrain. Ni naturally has a strong affinity for Fe which it substitutes for and sometimes occurs as oxides and silicates within lateritic clay soils as a result of prolonged weathering of parent rocks in tropical climates. Other Compounds SO42-, NO3-, NH4+, Cl- and % Organic matter were tested for in the sample collected. SO42- and NO3 are of major concern since construction works are ongoing very close (as close as 5m) to the garbage dump because of their reaction with concrete and cement in construction which turns to weaken structures. Most of these species are found in fertilizers, but their excess in the soil can cause problems. The concentration of SO42-, NO3-, NH4+ and Cl- high in the uphill samples. The higher levels in UH01 compared to UH02 could be attributed the presence of a farm close to the sampling point which might have already contaminated the soil with excessive use of fertilizers on the soil. However, OS02 recorded higher values for these chemical species than OS01 as did DH02 than DH01. The concentration of these species are in increasing magnitude of OS01˃UH02˃DH01˃UH01˃OS02˃DH02. High consistent values for OS02 and DH02 could be associated to their location down gradient to the garbage site and as such the concentration of the species at these locations through gravity movement of leachate. Percent organic matter levels in all the soil samples were within the typical range in soil. Conclusion The indiscriminate disposal of MSW without covering is considered a dangerous practice in integrated waste management at the global level. The presence of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn and Ni) in soil sample indicates that there is appreciable contamination of the soil by leachate migration. This is indicated that the migration and distribution of the contaminants species which may still localized and not diffused with a wide area. Soils immediately around the garbage dump further showed high concentration levels of SO42-, NO3- and NH4+ than the typical range in soils. As water infiltrates/percolates downwards into the soil it carries along soluble element dissolved in it. Thus, it could be said that soils below the sampling depth (30cm) might have higher concentration levels of these chemical species due to leaching provided the secondary permeabilities responsible for leachate transport are persistent. This is based on the fact that top soils are prone to leaching. However, there is also a possibility that the concentration of these chemical species may gradually attenuate as they travel deeper into the subsurface as a result of filtration through the soil strata. Recommendation IJSER
  • 15. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 10, October-2014 647 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2014 http://www.ijser.org From the heavy metal concentration present in the soil samples, it is believed that Pantang open dumping site is going to cause environmental problems in both short and long term and this site should be renewed. Hence, the active dumping site should be closed down immediately and an alternate engineered landfill be constructed. It is therefore recommended that a capped dumping site (engineered landfill) which makes provision for a leachate collection system and gas monitoring system (Allen 2001) be constructed. The provision of liner in the landfill protects the surrounding environment including soil, groundwater and surface water by containing leachate generated within the landfill, controlling ingress of groundwater and assisting in the control of the migration of landfill gas (Koerner and Soong 2000). Hence, the leachate migration through soil and the obnoxious odor can be avoided. The integrated solid waste management system for open dumping has to be time-honored and new sanitary landfill sites have to be constructed (Banar et al. 2007, 2009). Acknowledgments We sincerely thank Almighty God, The Department of Earth Science, Multigeoconsult LTD. and ECOLAB of the University of Ghana for support rendered to carry out the research work. We also thank Zoomlion for the permission to carry out the studies at the open dumpsites. References Allen A (2001) Containment landfills: the myth of sustainability. EngGeol 60:3–19 Anum, R. A (2012). Contamination Of Wells Around Garbage Dump. Case study; Pantang garbage dump. Article Banar M, Ozkan A, Vardar CI (2007) Characterization of an urban landfill soil by using physicochemical analysis and solid phase microextraction (SPME)—GC/MS. EnviroMonit Assess 127: 337–351 Banar M, Ozkan A, Altan M (2009) Modelling of heavy metal pollution in an unregulated solid waste dumping site with GIS research. J Environ Earth Sci 1(2):99–110 Gibson MJ, Farmer JG (1983) A survey of trace metal contamination in Glasgow urban soils. In: Proceedings of the 4th international conference on heavy metals in the environment, vol 2, CEP, Edinburgh, pp 1141–1144 Kesse, G. O. (1985). The Mineral and Rock Resouces of Ghana. London, UK: Longman Group Limited Kibble, A. and Russell, D. (2010) Contaminated Land and Health. In Maynard, R.L. et al. (eds) Environmental Medicine. Boca Raton,Florida: CRC Press. Pp: 565–573 Koerner RM, Soong TY (2000) Leachate in landfills: the stability issues. GeotextGeomembr 18:293–309 Olajire AA, Ayodele ET (1998) Heavy metal analysis of solid municipal wastes in the western part of Nigeria. Water Air SoilPollut 103:219–228 Purves D (1985) Trace-element contamination of the environment. Elsevier, Amsterdam U.S Army Engineer waterway experiment station (1978) Chemical and Physical Effects of municipal landfills on underlying soils and groundwater IJSER