Health impact of leachates from illegal dumpsites: case study of Kubwa Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the perilous impact of leachate’s foray on Kubwa-Abuja’s environment; with the purpose to enlightening city’s inhabitants from dumping refuse indiscriminately on unauthorized sites which may proactively have composite consequences on the environment and people living around the illegal dump-sites. Kubwa-Abuja area has three conspicuous illegal dumpsites which were designated as zones A, B, and C, using estimated distance apart. The three zones are residential houses within 100 meters radius; residential houses within 200 meters radius and residential houses within 300 meters radius from the dumpsites. Data for the study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The primary source reflect the administration of 200 questionnaires each to selected household members in the three designated zones and oral interview were conducted to random selected public members and the refuse control agencies in as to obtain information about impacts incursion of the unauthorized dumpsites in the study area. While the secondary source reveal the related literature on the work. Multiple Regression Analysis was used to test the hypotheses set. It was observed that significant differences exist in susceptibility of the populace to health related diseases and effect of leachate emanating from dumpsites on the nearby water. Policy measures are suggested on how best to curb the impact of illegal dumpsites on city environment.Keywords: Leachate, Environment, Perilous, Dumpsites and Kubwa-Abuja