Assessment of Microbial and Heavy Metal Concentration per Distance and Depth at a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Abstract

The field study involved 4 sites and 15 samples according to the wind directions: North, East, South and West. The analysis was conducted through the use of Atomic Absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Ten types of heavy metals were identified as indicators for pollution namely Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Cd. The results indicated that the concentration of Fe was the most dominant per specific distances and depths and exceeded the minimum standard in North, East and West directions. While Cu was the second most dominant with concentration exceeding minimum standard per specific distance and depth, mainly in the West direction. The results have shown presence of bacterial species including Pseudomonas, Mirococcus, Actinomyces, Neisseria, Bacillus and Klebsiella. These pathogens can infect wounds and cause sepsis and mortality and can even occur with such organisms to cause secondary infection. These groups of organisms are almost impossible to control since they are ubitiquous