The concentration of heavy metals zinc and lead in the soil around the Putri Cempo landfill, Indonesia

Abstract

Improper disposal of municipal waste is a serious threat to the environment and a challenge to climate which results in the land, water, and air pollution. Through decomposition processes and life cycle activities, landfill contributes to more than 5% of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. This study aims to determine the concentration of selected heavy metals around the Putri Cempo landfill. Soil samples were taken in the depth of 0-30 cm. Characterization of soil parameters included soil pH, organic matter (OM), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb). The result showed soil pH value ranging from 6.07 to 6.85 which is slightly acid, organic matter ranged from 0.95% to 5.87%, while Zinc and lead concentration ranged from 49.2μg/g to 224.7μg/g and 4.3μg/g to 82.4 μg/g respectively and were below the permissible limits of heavy metals in soil recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The mean concentration of both metals was detected low far from the landfill and higher close to the landfill, which proves that there had been the anthropogenic contribution of heavy metals pollution in the soil through the disposal of wastes. In conclusion, this study serves as a starting point for future environmental studies.

Assessment of Heavy Metal(loid) Pollution and Human Health Risks Associated with a Mineral (Zn, Cu, and Sn Ores) Processing Plant in Yunnan, Southwest China

“…The climate is warm, rainfall is abundant, and the tectonic superposition is complex and active. The main lithology from the top to bottom are the Quaternary reclamation soil layer (Q including Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni, and As, the soil was slightly acidic [21], and significant groundwater contamination occurred [22]. The water was highly contaminated by Cr and Pb [23].…”

“…For example, mining and processing enterprises may cause the environmental pollution of the surrounding soil during operation [16][17][18] or shutdown [19]. Peng et al [20] found that soils around 40 copper smelting sites in China were polluted by a variety of HMs including Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni, and As, the soil was slightly acidic [21], and significant groundwater contamination occurred [22]. The water was highly contaminated by Cr and Pb [23].…”