Environmental Impact of Wasteyard Leachate Pollution, It’s Health Risks with Some Microbial and Ecological Implications

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the public health risks from the consumption of farm crops and vegetables cultivated around active municipal solid waste dumpsites in Delta State. Using the experimental research method soil and vegetation (cassava leaves) samples were collected from ten spatial locations around municipal solid waste dumpsites (SWD), scrap metals yards (SMY) and agricultural farms and subjected to laboratory analysis of relevant physic-chemical parameters. Heavy metals like cadmium “Cd”, iron “Fe”, nickel “Ni” and lead “Pb” concentrations including, total variable bacteria (TVB) and Salmonella spp load in collected samples were determined in accordance with standard procedures. The results revealed a substantial spatial dispersion of the heavy metals, TVB and Salmonella spp concentrations within the two study areas. Remarkably, the bacteria level was higher in the SWD than in the SMY while the heavy metals concentration was higher in the SMYs when compared to the SWD. Spatially, soil and vegetation around the SMD area had higher HMs’ Hazard quotient, Hazard index and Carcinogenic risk values, when compared to the soil around the SMY region, but all their status were within safe limits for the human health. Salmonella spp population in the SWD and SMY soil ranged from 1.33 to 39.33 cfu/g of dry soil and 1.04 to 8.67 cfu/g of dry soil respectively while the TVB count ranged from 6233 cfu/g to 46500 cfu/g of dry soil. Although the heavy metal contamination levels in the soil samples were within safe limits, the presence of the pathogenic bacterium in the soil pose health threat to the inhabitants of the regions.