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

Abstract

This work reports the first screening study of the bioavailability of heavy metals such as copper, zinc, lead and nickel in the Lami municipal disposal facility, Suva, Fiji where virtually uncontrolled dumping had been carried out for over fifty years. The soil samples from three parts of the facility were collected and the potential for mobility into the surrounding marine environment was assessed according to international guidelines. The results showed high levels of Pb in Site A (109.0 mg kg–1) and that Zn was the predominant metal across Sites B and C with 550.7 mg kg–1 and 206.8 mg kg–1, respectively. Ni was present in the least amount with the highest value 8.7 mg kg–1. In addition, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations exceeded commonly used eco-toxicity threshold values. Moreover, there were indications that considerable leaching of the studied heavy metals may have been occurring for long periods of time at the sites. Overall, this study showed that even in areas with little industrialization, lack of adequate waste management controls could result in unusually high levels of heavy metals contamination of the soil. The results raise concerns about the wellbeing of the communities living adjacent to the Lami municipal disposal facility that depend on the adjacent marine environment for their subsistence.

Risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in agricultural sites and river sediments within the vicinity of an operational Gold Mine in Vatukoula, Fiji

“…( 9), ( 10) and ( 11) obtained from the USEPA (USEPA, 1989). (11) where C x is the metal concentration in the sample; IngR represents the ingestion rate; EF is the exposure frequency; ED is the exposure duration; BW refers to the average body weight of the receptor; AT is the averaging time; CF is the unit conversion factor; the InhR is the inhalation rate; PEF is the particulate emission factor; SA is the surface area of the exposed skin; AF soil is the soil adherence factor; and ABS is the dermal absorption factor. The exposure factors and their respective values used in the determination of the of CDI have been provided in Supplementary Table S2 (USEPA, 1989, 2010).…”

“…The proliferation of inorganic contaminants, particularly heavy metals in soils, sediments, agricultural resources, and marine environments, has become a major issue of global proportions with even small developing countries such as Fiji unspared (Diarra and Prasad, 2020). In Fiji, numerous studies conducted on soil, sediments and dust samples have con rmed the presence of these toxic heavy metals in urban and industrial areas as well as marine environments, with concentrations often exceeding ecotoxicity thresholds and established sediment quality guidelines (SQG) (Maata and Singh, 2008;Chandra et al, 2016;Maeaba et al, 2019). These have been largely attributed to anthropogenic activities including food processing and bottling plants, metal fabrication and construction, textile, battery and paint manufacturing plants, petroleum storage, as well as e uents released from the Kinoya Waste-Water Treatment Plant (KWWTP) (Arikibe and Prasad, 2020; Pratap et al, 2020).…”