Assessment of Volatile Organic Compound Emission from Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Sites (A Case Study of Perungudi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)

Abstract

Air pollution is one of the major environmental concerns in India due open disposal and burning of municipal solid waste (MSW). Improper solid waste management is the major threat to ecological integrity and human well-being. Air pollution was assessed on the basis of determination of volatile organic compound (VOCs) concentrations, which were emitted from interior materials. In the present study area Perungudi, dumping of MSW has been continuing for decades. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of VOCs emitting from the MSW disposal site is presented in this paper. The samples were collected from three locations based on three different categories such as fresh waste, 80–100 days waste, and above 120 days waste. The VOCs sample was analysed using the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). GC–MS analysis result shows that the fresh waste consists of trichloroethylene, chloro benzene, N-butyl benzene Tricholorofluoro methane, and benzene, whereas the aged waste consists of sec butyl benzene, o-xylenes, ethyl benzene, toluene M&P-xylenes, and T-butyl benzene in higher rate; this leads to serious health issues for the people living in the area and hence it should be given importance. The dispersion pattern of VOCs is also identified and the map showing the dispersion is presented.