Impact Assessment of a Solid Waste Dump Site on it Host Environment: Noise and Particulate Matter

Abstract

Burning of solid waste openly has contributed greatly to the degradation of ambient air quality, thus having a harmful effect on environment, animals, materials and human. This study employs a mass-based solid waste characterization method and also looks at the parameter such as ash content of the solid waste. Met One GT 331 mass monitor was employed to assess the levels of particulate matter and Total suspended particles (TSP) at ten sampling points on a dumpsite when the solid wastes were combusted. Noise level of the dumpsite was measured using digital sound level meter. The study characterized 35.151 kg of solid waste with food waste, nylon, plastic, metals, paper and textile contributing to the major components in the study area with 23.46%, 27.64%, 7.30%, 3.29%, 24.32%, and 13.98% respectively. The percentage ash content of the study were 7.12%, 7.09%, 21.41%, 29.16%, 8.88% and 7.58% for food waste, nylon, plastic, paper, textile and composite waste. The noise level were ranged 14.30 db(A) – 57.30 db(A). The 24 hr extrapolated concentrations for PM2.5, PM10 and TSP were ranged 1.97 – 23.48 µg/m3, 12.70 – 796.62 µg/m3 and 17.38 - 882.27 µg/m3 respectively. The noise level at the solid waste dumpsite were within the acceptable limit by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA, 1991). The extrapolated concentration for TSP breach the standard limit by FEPA for two days of the study. It is observed that the ambient air quality is fairly polluted as regards the level of particulate matter in the study area.