Leachates and physicochemical characteristics of Rumuodumaya dumpsites, Niger-Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal levels of leachates at the Rumuodumaya dumpsites and the surface water of its adjacent river was investigated by appropriate field instrument for in situ measurement, standard procedures and AGILENT 55B spectra for the heavy metals. The results from the dumpsites and surface water of the river generally indicate that as of the time of analysis, there is no serious threat to its immediate environment except the nickel concentrations in the dumpsites and surface water of the river, respectively and whose values were beyond the recommended limit of WHO/USEPA (0.05 mg/L) for safe drinking water. The trend of the results also indicates that the dumpsites are sources of numerous soil and water pollutants capable of depleting oxygen levels in the river and this could pose several and serious health risk to humans and aquatic life. Adequate solid waste disposal technique should be adopted by the appropriate agency to forestall this threat to the Rumuodumaya environment.