Abstract
The study investigated groundwater sources within reclaimed municipal waste dumpsites around Akachi road in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria. The research evaluated the pollution and risk inherent in the consumption of groundwater in the vicinity of the reclaimed waste dumpsite using standard procedures. Results showed acidic pH values for some groundwater samples within the reclaimed waste dumpsite. Elevated nitrate (NO3−), aluminium (Al) and chromium (Cr) concentrations above the World Health Organization (WHO) limits for drinking water samples were recorded in some of the groundwater samples from the study area. The observed strong positive correlations between the metallic contaminants indicated that the distribution of the pollutants has a strong relationship with organic contaminants in the reclaimed waste dumpsite. Low contamination factor was exhibited by all metals for the individual samples except for Cr in sample A and Al in sample A and D. The pollution load index for all the samples was low, except for sample C with a pollution load index of unity. Elevated hazard quotient > 1 and hazard index > 1 were observed for both adults and children due to high Cr levels. The chronic daily intake risk assessment revealed values < 1, while carcinogenic risk values greater than 10−6 and 10−4 were observed for the samples suggesting potential health risk for children and adults. The water quality index of samples from the reclaimed waste dumpsite calls for concern due to elevated levels of Al and Cr. These findings, therefore, suggest the need to treat the groundwater from the reclaimed dumpsite before consumption to avert serious health risks. Finally, waste dumpsites should be remediated or allow to undergo natural remediation before reclamation, erecting residential structures, and sinking of boreholes for water supply within such areas.
Highlights
Management of solid waste and disposal sites is a serious ecological concern all over the world (Vincent et al 2012), due to the tendency of such dumpsites to contaminate ground and surface water sources (Ejiogu et al 2017)
It was observed that groundwater samples A and C were mainly contaminated by N O−3, while samples A and B were polluted due to elevated Cr concentration
The observed correlations between the metallic pollutants suggested similar sources of origin of these heavy metals and may be associated with metallic scraps disposed in the waste dump site before reclamation
Summary
Management of solid waste and disposal sites is a serious ecological concern all over the world (Vincent et al 2012), due to the tendency of such dumpsites to contaminate ground and surface water sources (Ejiogu et al 2017). Documented pieces of evidence have shown that improperly managed waste dumpsites are inimical to human health and has shown their possibility of contaminating the soil and underlying aquifers (Amadi et al 2012; Boateng et al 2019; David and Oluyege 2014; Ibe et al 2017, 2018; Muze et al 2020; Obasi et al 2017; Temilola et al 2014) This arises from leachate infiltration aided by intense precipitation into the surroundings which subsequently contaminate the soil as well as the groundwater systems (Mor et al 2006; Taylor and Allen2006; Teta and Hikwa 2017). These components are associated with heavy metal related poisoning symptoms and ailments such as vomiting and convulsion, asthma, hypertension, renal and cardiovascular diseases, ataxia, neurological illness, gastrointestinal problems, pneumonitis, cancer, skeletal deformities, anaemia, and diarrhea (Abarikwu et al 2013; Farombi et al 2012; Vrijheid 2000)
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