Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of a hazardous uncontrolled dumpsite in an oxbow lake of the Nitra River for pollution potential: a case study

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper deals with the engineering-geological investigation of uncontrolled dumpsites that are abundant in post-communist countries. The sites may be redeveloped in an optimal manner by using the applied methodology of engineering-geological investigations. The research tool is a case study dealing with hazardous uncontrolled dumpsites chemically contaminated by various substances, particularly carcinogenic chromium. The dumpsite is located in the alluvial sediments of an oxbow lake of the Nitra River in the Slovak Republic. The hazard is seen in the fact that the alluvial sediments are permeable and thus the contamination may spread easily. At the same time, it is located near a river, which makes the hazard greater. Apart from the risk of contamination, another risk is related to the methane generated by the dumpsite and thus the risk of self-ignition. In order to identify the uncontrolled dumpsite body, the research was grounded in the different physical properties of the diverse geological environments. Quasi-homogenous blocks of the dumpsite body and its alluvial surroundings were well identified by using the combined three geophysical methods, namely dipole electromagnetic profiling (DEMP), electrical resistance tomography (ERT) and spontaneous polarization (SP). In order to eliminate the risk of contamination spread, redevelopment measures for the uncontrolled dumpsite in the form of sealing walls and surface sealing foil were proposed. A system of methane drainage boreholes was proposed to eliminate the risk of self-ignition. The methodology in this case study is well applicable for other uncontrolled dumpsites, which is an important outcome of the study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Fares, R. A., Al-Jarallah, R. S., & Abdulsalam, Z. (2010). An initial pilot scale investigation of Al-Jahra waste disposal site using electrical resistivity (ER) surveys. Kuwait Journal of Science & Engineering, 37(2 B), 25–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardarelli, E., & Di Filippo, G. (2004). Integrated geophysical surveys on waste dumps: evaluation of physical parameters to characterize an urban waste dump (four case studies in Italy). Waste Management & Research, 22(5), 390–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, J. E., Kuras, O., Meldrum, P. I., Ogilvy, R. D., & Hollands, J. (2006). Electrical resistivity tomography applied to geologic, hydrogeologic, and engineering investigations at a former waste-disposal site. Geophysics, 71(6), B231–B239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Critto, A., Carlon, C., & Marcomini, A. (2003). Characterization of contaminated soil and groundwater surrounding an illegal landfill (S. Giuliano, Venice, Italy) by principal component analysis and kriging. Environmental Pollution, 122(2), 235–244.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dar, S. N., Wani, M. A., Shah, S. A., & Skinder, S. (2018). Identification of suitable landfill site based on GIS in Leh, Ladakh Region. GeoJournal, 1–15.

  • Di Fiore, V., Cavuoto, G., Punzo, M., Tarallo, D., Casazza, M., Guarriello, S. M., & Lega, M. (2017). Integrated hierarchical geo-environmental survey strategy applied to the detection and investigation of an illegal landfill: a case study in the Campania Region (Southern Italy). Forensic Science International, 279, 96–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dumont, G., Robert, T., Marck, N., & Nguyen, F. (2017). Assessment of multiple geophysical techniques for the characterization of municipal waste deposit sites. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 145, 74–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawai, S., Shimaoka, T., & Sakaguchi, S. (2016). Behavior of soft plastic in illegally dumped solid waste according to effective stress changes. Japanese Geotechnical Society Special Publication, 2(52), 1798–1801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Król, S. (2016). Illegal landfill sites in Poland. World Scientific News, 48, 164–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landrigan, P. J., & Gross, R. L. (1981). Chemical wastes - illegal hazards and legal remedies. American Journal of Public Health, 71(9), 985–987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mazza, A., Piscitelli, P., Neglia, C., Rosa, G., & Iannuzzi, L. (2015). Illegal dumping of toxic waste and its effect on human health in Campania, Italy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(6), 6818–6831.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruffell, A., Pringle, J. K., Graham, C., Langton, M., & Jones, G. M. (2018). Geophysical assessment of illegally buried toxic waste for a legal enquiry: a case study in Northern Ireland (UK). Environmental Forensics, 1–14.

  • Seeboonruang, U. (2016). Geographic information system–based impact assessment for illegal dumping in borrow pits in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. Geological Society of America Special Papers, 520, 393–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, A., Gupta, A. K., & Ganguly, R. (2018). Impact of open dumping of municipal solid waste on soil properties in mountainous region. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 10(4), 725–739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shevchuk, R. M. (2018). Technique for satellite monitoring of illegal amber mining territories based on integrated Landsat and sentinel data processing. Journal of the Georgian Geophysical Society, 21(1).

  • Wu, T. N., & Huang, Y. C. (2006). Detection of illegal dump deposit with GPR: case study. Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management, 10(3), 144–149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yannah, M., Martens, K., Van Camp, M., & Walraevens, K. (2019). Geophysical exploration of an old dumpsite in the perspective of enhanced landfill mining in Kermt area, Belgium. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 1–13.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors also thank the Faculty of Mining and Geology, VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, for the support of the project (SP2018/33) which is the base of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Mining and Geology, VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17 listopadu 15, 708 33, Ostrava, Czech Republic

    Marian Marschalko, Dominik Niemiec & Barbara Matuszková

  2. Department of applied and environmental geophysics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, Bratislava, Slovakia

    René Putiška

  3. Department of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Cumhuriyet University, 58140, Sivas, Turkey

    Isik Yilmaz

  4. Sensor, spol. s r.o., Ormisova 6, 831 02, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Vladimír Vybíral

  5. Geospacial and Civil Engineering - Institute of Geodesy, Faculty of Geodesy, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Heweliusza 5, 10-724, Olsztyn, Poland

    Dariusz Popielarczyk

Authors
  1. Marian Marschalko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. René Putiška
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Isik Yilmaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dominik Niemiec
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vladimír Vybíral
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dariusz Popielarczyk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Barbara Matuszková
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isik Yilmaz.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Marschalko, M., Putiška, R., Yilmaz, I. et al. Investigation of a hazardous uncontrolled dumpsite in an oxbow lake of the Nitra River for pollution potential: a case study. Environ Monit Assess 192, 49 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-8031-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-8031-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation