Heavy metal contamination in soils from a municipal landfill, surrounded by banana plantation in the eastern flank of Mount Cameroon

Abstract

Municipal solid waste generated in our cities, with an unprecedented population growth, has resulted in degrading environmental quality, thus a major problem for policy makers. The extent of Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg and Zn contamination in soils of the studied area, where vegetables were grown, using metal contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index were assessed. The concentrations of heavy metals studied were in the order Cu > Zn > Cd > Hg > Pb > Ni, with the highest value (in mg/kg) for Zn (14.15±0.73), Cu (14.15±1.59), Cd (6.57±1.71) and Hg (6.29±0.97) recorded in site SS1. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) indicated that sites SS3, SS4 and SS5 were uncontaminated, moderately contaminated (1< Igeo<3) for Zn, landfill was moderately to heavily contaminated (1< Igeo<3) for Cu, Cd and for swamp only Hg. Contamination factor (CF) for soils indicated that site SS1 had a very high degree of contamination (CF > 6) for Cu and Cd while the swamp, old dumpsite and downstream had a low contamination (CF<1). The landfill area is moderately contaminated and considering the age and other anthropogenic factors, this environment may become highly polluted in future. This present work could serve as a landmark for contemporary research in ecotoxicology .

Water Quality of Streams and Springs around a Municipal Landfill Surrounded by Intense Agricultural Activities in a Tropical Environment

“…The presence of large numbers of phytoplankton species that are indicators of eutrophication suggest some level of nutrient input at these sites, which render the water eutrophic. This gives support to the result obtained by [13], who recorded high values of these nutrients in soils from the same municipal landfill, surrounded by banana plantation in the eastern flank of Mount Cameroon. The division with the highest species abundance across the sampling sites was the Bacillariophyta, followed by chlorophyta.…”

“…The discharge of large quantities of agrochemicals, organic matter, and drug residues from farms into water bodies poses risks to aquatic ecosystems, human health and productive activities [7]. The effects of land-uses on soil, surface and ground water quality in many areas has been documented [8,9,10,11,12,13]. Yong and Chen [14] examined the hydrological effects of land use in Ohio (USA) and ascertained that there was a significant relationship between land use types and surface water quality with the resultant effect such as eutrophication and its associated problems like oxygen depletion and loss of aquatic biodiversity [15].…”

“…Disposal of waste from the Buea municipality is done at the Mussaka landfill, for which there is virtually no engineered controls. A previous study had been conducted to investigate the impacts of the landfill on soils around and within the landfill [13], but the impacts of landfill on water systems around it remains unknown, given that the landfill is located in an area that can be described as constituting a sensitive ecosystem (Fig. 1).…”

Evaluation and Ecological Risk Assessment of Selected Heavy Metal Pollution of Soils and Amaranthus cruentus and Telfairia occidentalis Grown Around Dump Site in Chanchaga Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

“…The low pH in water and KCl (5.93, 6.03) at dumpsite were as a result of the dump which moves toward acidity. Research has shown that heavy metals are more mobile at pH < 7 than at pH > 7 [31,21]. However, low pH can pose a significant health risk to humans, leading to various chronic diseases, particularly in elevated concentrations or in prolonged dietary intakes [32,22].…”

“…In vegetables, heavy metals can be accumulate in edible parts (leaves). Heavy metals are generally more mobile at low pH than at high pH [21]. However, metals pose a significant health risk to humans, leading to various chronic diseases, particularly in elevated concentrations or in prolonged dietary intakes [22].…”