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Study of contaminant transport at an open-tipping waste disposal site

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Abstract

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to estimate concentration of potential contaminants from landfill in the underlying groundwater, leachate, and surface water. Samples collected in the vicinity of the landfill were analyzed for physiochemical parameters, organic contaminants, and toxic heavy metals. Water quality results obtained were compared from published data and reports. The results indicate serious groundwater and surface water contamination in and around the waste disposal site. Analysis of the organic samples revealed that the site contains polychlorinated biphenyls and other organo-chlorine chemicals, principally chloro-benzenes. Although the amount of PCB concentration discovered was not extreme, their presence indicates a potentially serious environmental threat. Elevated concentrations of lead, copper, nickel, manganese, cadmium, and cobalt at the downgradient indicate that the contamination plume migrated further from the site, and the distribution of metals and metals containing wastes in the site is nonhomogeneous. These results clearly indicate that materials are poorly contained and are at risk of entering the environment. Therefore, full characterization of the dump contents and the integrity of the site are necessary to evaluate the scope of the problem and to identify suitable remediation options.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by various research grants (RG042-09AFR, UM-MOHE HIR F000004-21001 and PV112/2012A). The experiment was conducted at the Hydrogeology Laboratory, Department of Geology, University of Malaya and some of the facilities were utilized from University of Malaya Centre for Ionic Liquids (UMCiL). The authors thank the grant provider and their graduate students and colleagues who supported this research.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia

    Muhammad Aqeel Ashraf & Yatimah Alias

  2. Department of Geology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia

    Muhammad Aqeel Ashraf, Ismail Yusoff & Mohamad Yusof

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  1. Muhammad Aqeel Ashraf
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Ashraf, M.A., Yusoff, I., Yusof, M. et al. Study of contaminant transport at an open-tipping waste disposal site. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 4689–4710 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1423-x

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