First screening study of metal content in soil from a mixed waste receptacle

Abstract

We report the first screening study for the metals copper, zinc, lead, nickel and cadmium in the Lami municipal disposal facility, in Suva, Fiji where virtually uncontrolled dumping has been carried out for over fifty years. Soil from three parts of the facility having had different degrees of usage was analysed for a range of heavy metals, and evaluated according to international guidelines. The results show copper (100–220 mg kg–1), lead (200–500 mg kg–1) and zinc (220–350 mg kg–1) concentrations exceeded commonly used eco-toxicity threshold values (copper, 160 mg kg–1; lead, 210 mg kg–1; and zinc, 220 mg kg–1). Moreover, there were indications that considerable leaching may have been occurring for long periods of time at the site. Overall, this study shows that even in areas with little industrialization, lack of adequate waste management controls can result in unusually high levels of contamination. The results raise concerns about the wellbeing of the communities living adjacent to the facility that depend on the adjacent marine environment for subsistence.

Study of heavy metal fractionation in the Lami municipal disposal facility, Fiji

“…© The University of the South Pacific 2016The present work reports levels of copper, zinc, lead and nickel in the bioavailable fraction of soils from the Lami municipal waste receptacle. Recently, we have published our findings of the Lami municipal facility for total metals (Chandra et al, 2015). Thus, the present report augments that of our previous study and presents an immediate snapshot of the risk status of the heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni and Pb) to the sites and surroundings.…”

“…The contents were then centrifuged at 2000 revolutions per min for 20 min. The clear supernatants were treated and subjected to analysis of heavy metals as per our published procedure (Chandra et al, 2015). The extracted heavy metals were subsequently analyzed using a Perkin Elmer 3110 flame atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS).…”

“…Those that utilized the disposal site for waste disposal included garment factories, food manufacturing, electroplating and mechanical work industries as well as other commercial enterprises. At the time of sampling, no data on the composition of the wastes entering the disposal site was available but visual observations indicated that material of an organic nature make up the bulk (Chandra et al, 2015). During its use, the site also lacked lining material or any other containment mechanism to protect the surrounding environment from leachates emanating from the disposal site.…”

“…The dumped material was leveled using a bulldozer and layers of new soil piled on the disposed matter to allow for containment of odor and to facilitate access through to other parts of the facility by transport trucks. Some areas of the disposal facility had previously not been in use for many years which led to a variety of plant life on them (Chandra et al, 2015).…”

“…Soil collection and treatment followed the protocol of Chandra et al (2015). Within each site, a 9 m 2 area was marked off and further divided into 1 m × 1 m blocks (total of nine blocks).…”