Impact of the Municipal Solid Waste Łubna Landfill on Environmental Pollution by Heavy Metals

Abstract

Landfills have been identified as potential sources of heavy metal pollution of the environment. The municipal solid waste Łubna landfill is one of the largest landfills in Poland. Its impact on heavy metal pollution (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cr) of groundwater, soil and plants has been thoroughly evaluated. Elevated levels of contamination have not been recorded in the vicinity of the landfill. The concentrations of heavy metals in soil from the vicinity of the landfill were similar to the geochemical background levels for the forest and farming soils of central Poland. The concentrations of heavy metals in European goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea L.) and grasses (Poaceae) did not exceed the baseline concentrations and did not indicate environmental pollution by heavy metals. The levels of the metal concentration in groundwater did not exceed the standards established for water intended for consumption.

Occurrence and Health-Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in Raw and Boiled Drinking Water from Rural Areas of China

“…Trace metals in waters may originate from both natural and anthropogenic processes, such as mineral weathering, industrial activities, municipal wastewater discharge, unsustainable agricultural practices, and traffic activities [15,16]. Landfill impact on water contamination is considered to be one of the most pronounced issues threatening water quality [17,18] Due to the contamination of arsenic (As), drinking water from more than 70 countries is not safe for consumption for approximately 150 million people [19]. High levels of lead (Pb) and vanadium (V) are often detected in tap water supplied by lead pipes [20][21][22].…”

Levels of Organic Pollution Indicators in Groundwater at the Old Landfill and Waste Management Site

“…In recent years, the impact of landfills on groundwater quality has enhanced numerous studies relating to the assessment of the soil-water environment near landfills and waste management facilities [6,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”

Math modeling and analysis of the impact of municipal solid waste landfill leachate on the environment

“…At present, the amount of MSW that is generated and released annually into the biosphere is overwhelming and makes up about 400 million tons a year, which negatively affects the sanitary and epidemiological welfare of settlements [2,[4][5][6][7]. According to the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, and Communal Living of Ukraine, specific waste generation indicators average 250 kg/year per capita, while in large cities they reach 330-380 kg/year, increasing annually by 3.5 % [3].…”