Abstract
In this study, an attempt was made to examine the effects of dumpsite leachate on soil biological sentinels by collecting leachate samples from Ikhueniro and Otofure dumpsites in Benin City Nigeria, and analyzed using standard methods. The parameters include pH, chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, phosphate, sulphate, chloride, nitrate, chromium, cadmium and lead. The mean results showed pH (8.30 ±0.14), BOD (566 mg/l), COD (1713 mg/l), Phosphate (7.73 ± 0.14 mg/l), Sulphate (22.40 ± 0.75 mg/l), Chloride (187.5 ± 1.12 mg/l), Nitrate (1.47 V 0.06 mg/l), Chromium (0.06 ± 0.1 mg/l), Cadmium (0.20 ± 0.1 mg/l), Lead (1.03 ± 0.04) for Ikhueniro and pH (8.0 ± 0.1), BOD (315 mg/l), COD (1095 mg/l), Phosphate (5.85 ± 0.19 mg/l), Sulphate (31.70 ± 0.73 mg/l), Chloride (135.25 ± 1.59 mg/l), Nitrate (0.93 ± 0.09 mg/l), Chromium (0.06 ± 0.1mg/l), Cadmium (0.109 ± 0.1mg/l), Lead (0.015 ± 0.005 mg/l)for Otofure respectively. Different concentrations of leachate ranging between 25% and 100% was used and the growth of Nitrosomonas sp reduced from 6.4×10 4 (cfu/ml) – 2.9×10 4 (cfu/ml), when compared to the control which increased from 6.4×10 4 (cfu/ml) – 1.0×10 5 (cfu/ml). The percentage survival of Lumbricus terrestris was 2.19%, 1.14%, 3.42%, 6.69%, with varying concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% respectively. The method implored for analysis shows the leachate sample was toxic to both test organisms. Nitrosomonas sp and Lumbricus terrestris may be used as indicator organisms for leachate toxicity in the soil. Keywords : toxic leachate effects, heavy metals leachate, soil sentinels, earthworm assay
Highlights
The developing trend of industrialization and modernization is generating tons of solid waste of different categories posing severe environmental threat
Nitrosomonas sp plays a critical role as an ammonia oxidizing bacteria by converting ammonia to nitrite
This study aims at evaluating the physiochemical properties of leachates and the effect it has on essential biological sentinels of the soil such as Nitrosomonas sp and Lumbricus terrestris
Summary
The developing trend of industrialization and modernization is generating tons of solid waste of different categories posing severe environmental threat. The activities of both the developed and developing countries are affecting the soil fertility. One obvious consequence of rapid urbanization is the growing generation of solid wastes, and many city authorities face unprecedented challenges in managing these, including problems coping with their collection and disposal (Ogu, 2000). This has led to the excessive production of leachates. This study aims at evaluating the physiochemical properties of leachates and the effect it has on essential biological sentinels of the soil such as Nitrosomonas sp and Lumbricus terrestris
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