Illegal Waste Disposal Research Articles

Mapping illegal domestic waste disposal potential to support waste management efforts in Queensland, Australia

Illegal disposal of waste is a significant management issue for contemporary governments because of the hazards posed to both human and ecosystem health. Understanding the complex distribution pattern of illegal waste and the range of economic, environmental and social factors influencing this distribution is valuable for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of waste management efforts. This article examines the applicability of mapping illegal waste disposal in the Sunshine Coast (Queensland, Australia) through the identification and integration of predictive spatial data in a geographic information system. A statistical model of illegal waste disposal was developed using a binary logistic regression analysis to identify explanatory variables suitable for predicting the distribution of illegal waste. Five statistically significant explanatory variables were identified through this analysis: population density, primary land use, distance to the nearest road, waste facility and roadside amenity. The generated statistical model had a predictive success of 86.1% with all indicators suggesting good model fit (χ2 = 474.3, P = 0 with df = 22) across the study area. Standardised spatial data on each explanatory variable were combined using a weighted linear combination analysis and the results were classified into five categories from very low to very high illegal waste disposal potentials using the equal interval method. The resultant mapping identified 6.9% of the study area as having very high illegal waste disposal potential, and subsequent validation indicated that 32.9% of known illegal waste disposal sites were located within these areas.

Response to Bifulco. Comments on Triassi et al. Environmental pollution from illegal waste disposal and health effects: a reviewer on the "Triangle of Death". Int. J. Environ. Res. Public health 2015, 12, 1216-1236.

We thank Bifulco [1] for his interest in reading our article and his time in writing his comments on our work [2]. Our response to his concerns are as follows:[...]

Comments on Triassi et al. Environmental pollution from illegal waste disposal and health effects: a review on the "Triangle of Death". Int. J. Environ. Res. Public health 2015, 12, 1216-1236.

A recent paper was published on Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health addressing the so-called “Triangle of Death” linked to waste crisis in the Southern Italy [1]. Three decades of illegal waste management including uncontrolled disposal of toxic and industrial material, land filling and unauthorized incineration have transformed these Italian areas, into the poisoned dustbin of the country, the “Triangle of Death” also called “Land of Fires” [2,3], characterized by the presence of a widespread organized crime, a huge social and economic disintegration, a high population density with large migration flows. [...]

Environmental pollution from illegal waste disposal and health effects: a review on the "triangle of death".

The term “triangle of death” was used for the first time by Senior and Mazza in the journal The Lancet Oncology referring to the eastern area of the Campania Region (Southern Italy) which has one of the worst records of illegal waste dumping practices. In the past decades, many studies have focused on the potential of illegal waste disposal to cause adverse effects on human health in this area. The great heterogeneity in the findings, and the bias in media communication has generated great healthcare doubts, anxieties and alarm. This paper addresses a review of the up-to-date literature on the “triangle of death”, bringing together the available information on the occurrence and severity of health effects related to illegal waste disposal. The Scopus database was searched using the search terms “waste”, “Campania”, “Naples”, “triangle of death” and “human biomonitoring”. Despite the methodological and sampling heterogeneity between the studies, this review examines the evidence from published data concerning cancer incidence, childhood mortality and birth defects, so that the current situation, knowledge gaps and research priorities can be established. The review aims to provide a contribution to the scientific community, and to respond to the concerns of the general population.

Simulated solar photocatalytic processes for the simultaneous removal of EDDS, Cu(II), Fe(III) and Zn(II) in synthetic and real contaminated soil washing solutions

Abstract Metal contamination of natural soil is a global problem. In many cases the contamination is due to anthropogenic activities, and, sometimes, it comes from illegal waste disposal due to uncontrolled industrial development. One of the ways of solving metal soil contamination is by soil washing using a chelating biodegradable agent (EDDS). However, the resulting liquid wastes that contain the extracted metals and chelating agents have to be submitted to further treatments for a complete detoxification before being discharged into the environment. The simultaneous removal of EDDS and three metals (Cu, Fe and Zn) from both synthetic waters (home prepared) and real contaminated soil washing mixtures at neutral pH has been investigated, a lab-scale, considering four artificial solar driven photocatalytic technologies (TiO 2 /hν/N 2 , TiO 2 /hν/air, Fe(III)-EDDS/hν/air and Fe(III)-EDDS/hν/H 2 O 2 /air). The soils were sampled in the Province of Naples (South of Italy) in a zone infamously known for its high incidence of cancer mortality. The results indicate that both the type and the sequence of photocatalytic technologies that need to be apply should be chosen prudently considering both the nature and the content of the soil washing solutions.

Efficacious Waste Organisation in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Bauchi City

Waste management is the collection, transportation, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity and is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, aesthetics, amenity and the environment and also to recover resources. Waste management can involve solid liquid or gaseous substances with different methods and fields of emphasis for each. Waste management practices differ for developed, developing nations, for urban and rural areas, and for residential and industrial production. This paper tries to deal with illegal and unplanned solid waste disposal; it also attempts to proffer solutions to the problem of improper waste disposal through incineration and recycling of metals, cellophane and Teflon and how Bauchi state can generate some revenue through the recycling of these waste materials. The paper also tries to educate on the problems associated with landfills while dealing briefly, on the advantages of biological processing and also how waste can be avoided and reduced. The paper also tries to present waste management concepts in relation to Bauchi city.

Efficacious Waste Organisation in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Bauchi City

Waste management is the collection, transportation, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity and is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, aesthetics, amenity and the environment and also to recover resources. Waste management can involve solid liquid or gaseous substances with different methods and fields of emphasis for each. Waste management practices differ for developed, developing nations, for urban and rural areas, and for residential and industrial production. This paper tries to deal with illegal and unplanned solid waste disposal; it also attempts to proffer solutions to the problem of improper waste disposal through incineration and recycling of metals, cellophane and Teflon and how Bauchi state can generate some revenue through the recycling of these waste materials. The paper also tries to educate on the problems associated with landfills while dealing briefly, on the advantages of biological processing and also how waste can be avoided and reduced. The paper also tries to present waste management concepts in relation to Bauchi city.

The Sopranos Redux: The Empirical Economics of Waste Crime

Almer C. and Goeschl T. The Sopranos redux: the empirical economics of waste crime, Regional Studies. Evidence for the argument that enforcement makes environmental policies effective is limited with respect to geography, scope, enforcement tools and regulatory context. Non-US evidence on criminal enforcement of illegal waste disposal is examined using a panel dataset of 44 counties from the German state of Baden-Württemberg for the period 1995–2005. The results support the pro-enforcement argument. Cumulatively, there is clear evidence for a general deterrence effect of enforcement intensity on the amount of waste crime. However, regional economic and political economy factors matter significantly for environmental outcomes. Violations appear to be treated differently depending on their local political economy context.

A general model of dioxin contamination in breast milk: results from a study on 94 women from the Caserta and Naples areas in Italy.

Background: The Caserta and Naples areas in Campania Region experience heavy environmental contamination due to illegal waste disposal and burns, thus representing a valuable setting to develop a general model of human contamination with dioxins (PCDDs-PCDFs) and dioxin-like-PCBs (dl-PCBs). Methods: 94 breastfeeding women (aged 19–32 years; mean age 27.9 ± 3.0) were recruited to determine concentrations of PCDDs-PCDFs and dl-PCBs in their milk. Individual milk samples were collected and analyzed according to standard international procedures. A generalized linear model was used to test potential predictors of pollutant concentration in breast milk: age, exposure to waste fires, cigarette smoking, diet, and residence in high/low risk area (defined at high/low environmental pressure by a specific 2007 WHO report). A Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis was carried out by taking into account PCDDs-PCDFs and dl-PCBs as endogenous variables and age, waste fires, risk area and smoking as exogenous variables. Results: All milk samples were contaminated by PCDDs-PCDFs (8.6 pg WHO-TEQ/98g fat ± 2.7; range 3.8–19) and dl-PCBs (8.0 pg WHO-TEQ/98g fat ± 3.7; range 2.5–24), with their concentrations being associated with age and exposure to waste fires (p < 0.01). Exposure to fires resulted in larger increases of dioxins concentrations in people living in low risk areas than those from high risk areas (p < 0.01). Conclusions: A diffuse human exposure to persistent organic pollutants was observed in the Caserta and Naples areas. Dioxins concentration in women living in areas classified at low environmental pressure in 2007 WHO report was significantly influenced by exposure to burns.

Disposal of medical waste: A legal perspective

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being. The illegal dumping of hazardous waste poses a danger to the environment when pollutants migrate into water sources and ultimately cause widespread infection or toxicity, endangering the health of humans who might become exposed to infection and toxins. To give effect to the Constitution, the safe disposal of hazardous waste is governed by legislation in South Africa. Reports of the illegal disposal of waste suggest a general lack of awareness and training in regard to the safe disposal of medical waste.

数値モデルを用いた３次元斜面内の降雨浸透および移流分散挙動に関する研究

Illegal waste disposal is a serious problem in Japan. The discarded waste may contain harmful pollutant. It penetrates into the ground by rain and can contaminate groundwater. If the contamination of groundwater due to illegal dumping occurs at the slope, the affected area can expand. However, previous studies principally focus on urban area and flat land. This study is made to clarify factors affecting pollutants flows. Factors we focused on are hydraulic conductivity and layer thickness of the slope. To this end, we perform a 3D numerical simulation of the subsurface advection and dispersion processes in the slope under periodic rainfall.

Environmental and criminal geoforensics: an introduction

Many subdisciplines within the Earth Sciences make use of either geophysical instruments to investigate the subsurface environment or use analytical methods to determine the origin, or provenance, of geological materials. These same instruments and analytical methods can be used either directly, or adapted to suit, the acquisition of data that pertain to a wide range of forensic science investigations. Such approaches, as discussed below, are generally not new but, in recent years, there has been a significant resurgence globally in the application of geological and geophysical methods to aid forensic investigations. Traditionally, such methods were used in forensic investigations related to serious criminal cases such as terrorism, murder, abduction and serious sexual assaults, and to a lesser extent in the investigation of cases of fraud and theft. But with increasing concern into the environmental impact of human activity, with the release of contaminants into the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere, and their potential uptake into the biosphere, there has been an increased amount of environmental legislation. In turn, there has commonly been an increase in the costs associated with the legal discharge or disposal of wastes. Consequently, it is unsurprising that the illegal discharge and disposal of wastes has also increased. Identifying the distribution, impact and source of such waste materials can, in part, be addressed through the application of geological techniques, in much the same way as used traditionally, for example, in the investigation of murder cases. The diversification of the use of geological techniques into the investigation of environmental crime will, potentially, significantly increase the range of investigations in which geologists may be asked to assist but will also lead to a new array of research questions to be addressed, hence the need for this Special Publication. In this short introduction, the aim is to place the current work into its broad historical context and summarize the key findings from the papers presented within this volume. The papers within this Special Publication were presented at two separate conferences in 2010: the Third International Soil Forensics Conference held at Long Beach California USA and organized by the SFI Group; and a conference on Environmental and Criminal Forensics, organized by the Forensic Geoscience Group of the Geological Society of London, and held at Burlington House, London, in December 2010.

The health risk of the agricultural production in potentially contaminated sites: an environmental-health risk analysis

Rural areas are often interested by pollution phenomena generated by agricultural activities with a high use of pesticides and/or by anthropic activities, such as industrial plants or illegal waste disposal sites, which may cause even long-range contamination. The risk for human health from the pollutants present in the environment can be quantitatively evaluated by the environmental health risk analysis set out in the Italian Legislative Decree no. 152/2006 (Italian Regulation, 2006). This analysis is the best technical-normative tool to estimate the health risks linked to the pollutants present in the environment but it does not consider the specificity of agricultural soils or the contamination of agricultural products. This study aims to provide this missing technical-normative data by identifying and applying a suitable methodology to evaluate the health risk caused by the ingestion of agricultural products grown in contaminated soils. The risk analysis was applied to two contaminated areas in southern Italy using an innovative methodology based on widely accepted parameters for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) soil-plant bio-transfer factor in the case of horticultural crops. In addition, some concentration limits of PAHs in agricultural soils are proposed that may be of help to the competent authorities (health agencies, local authorities) in delineating the areas requiring strict health surveillance of the food products cultivated.

The health risk of the agricultural production in potentially contaminated sites: an environmental-health risk analysis

Rural areas are often interested by pollution phenomena generated by agricultural activities with a high use of pesticides and/or by anthropic activities, such as industrial plants or illegal waste disposal sites, which may cause even long-range contamination. The risk for human health from the pollutants present in the environment can be quantitatively evaluated by the environmental health risk analysis set out in the Italian Legislative Decree no. 152/2006 (Italian Regulation, 2006). This analysis is the best technical-normative tool to estimate the health risks linked to the pollutants present in the environment but it does not consider the specificity of agricultural soils or the contamination of agricultural products. This study aims to provide this missing technical-normative data by identifying and applying a suitable methodology to evaluate the health risk caused by the ingestion of agricultural products grown in contaminated soils. The risk analysis was applied to two contaminated areas in southern Italy using an innovative methodology based on widely accepted parameters for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) soil-plant bio-transfer factor in the case of horticultural crops. In addition, some concentration limits of PAHs in agricultural soils are proposed that may be of help to the competent authorities (health agencies, local authorities) in delineating the areas requiring strict health surveillance of the food products cultivated.

Attractiveness of roads for illegal dumping with regard to regional differences in Slovenia

The first countrywide register of illegal dump sites in Slovenia was created in 2010 and 2011. Due to its extensiveness it allows in-depth analyses of factors that affect illegal waste disposal. Prior research has already proven the impact of roads on the incidence of illegal dumps, but in this paper we investigate if regional differences significantly influence its expression. We consider the existing landscape typing, which divides Slovenia into 14 landscape-ecological types. We find significant differences between landscape types in the attractiveness of roads for disposal. They are especially pronounced when comparing the attractiveness of individual road categories.

Geochemical survey of an illegal waste disposal site under a waste emergency scenario (Northwest Naples, Italy)

Since the mid 1980s, Naples and the Campania region have suffered from the dumping of wastes into overfilled landfills. The aim was to characterise a former cave located in Roccarainola (Naples, Italy) for its eventual destination to a controlled landfill site. A detailed hydro-geochemical survey of the area was carried out through drilling of 14 boreholes and four monitoring wells. Samples of water, sediment and soil were analysed for heavy metals and organic contaminants from a dew pond placed in the middle of the cave. The underneath aquifer was also surveyed. The nature of gases emitted from the site was investigated. Results of the geognostic survey revealed the presence of huge volumes of composite wastes, approximately half a million of cubic metre, which accumulated up to a thickness of 25.6m. In some points, wastes lie below the free surface level of the aquifer. The sampled material from the boreholes revealed levels of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sn, Tl and Zn exceeding the intervention legal limits. Outstanding loads of Cd, Pb and Zn were found, with levels exceeding of about 50, 100 and 1,870 times the limit. In several points, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon load was extremely high, 35 vs 1mgkg(-1) of the threshold. The aquifer was also very heavily polluted by Cd, Cr-tot, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, with impressive high load of Cr and Mn, up to 250-370 times the limits. Hot gases up to 62°C with presence of xylene and ethylbenzene were found. Results indicated that the site needs an urgent intervention of recovery to avoid compromising the surrounding areas and aquifers of the Campania plain.

Illegal waste disposal in the time of the mafia: a tale of enforcement and social well being

The current waste crisis in Italy is the most recent evidence that criminal organisations can impact waste management heavily. Nonetheless, this aspect has been neglected by current literature. We take the first step in filling this gap by developing a model which allows for the presence of a criminal organisation which extorts (socially costly) rent from agents willing to perform illegal disposal. In a setting where the public authority acts as a Stackelberg leader with respect to the mafia, we assume, coherently through real life observation, that enforcement efforts can only hit the criminal organisation: agents are therefore subject to indirect enforcement via the mafia extortion. Our main conclusion suggests that the presence of the mafia can lead to an increase in the level of economic activity and to less enforcement; under certain conditions, the related benefits can offset the damages from increases in illegal disposal and the social costs of the mafia's rent. These results provide a possible theoretical rationale for authorities' tolerance of the mafia in the waste cycle, and contribute to the explanation of some surprising stylised facts in the Italian case.

Cancer values of prevented fatalities (VPFs), one size does not fit all: The benefits of contaminated site cleanups in Italy

The authors conducted a survey based on conjoint choice experiments in Milan, Italy, about mortality risk reductions delivered by hypothetical private behaviors and public programs, and used it to estimate the value of a prevented fatality (VPF) when the cause of death is cancer. Their estimate of the VPF is €4.2 million. The VPF is about €1 million larger when the risk reduction is delivered by a public program, but further analyses reveal that it is so only when the respondent believes that public programs are effective at reducing this particular type of mortality risk. This estimate of the VPF is higher than generic European Union–wide figures recommended by the European Commission Directorate-General for Environment (DG Environment) for environmental policy analyses, and is comparable to other VPFs that are appropriate for Italy, hazardous waste regulations, and enforcement-based cleanup programs. The authors use their VPF to compute the benefits of addressing leaking landfills, illegal disposal of hazardous wastes, and poor hazardous waste management practices in the provinces of Naples and Caserta in southern Italy. The authors also examine the importance of the discount rates, since the mortality benefits of remediation begin in 20 yr and are assumed to continue over 30 yr. Implications: Cost-benefit analysis that includes monetized nonmarket goods and services such as adverse health and premature mortality effects has become a standard tool in project appraisal and policy decision-making. The authors' estimates of the mortality benefits of cleaning up hazardous waste sites in a region of southern Italy are much larger than previous calculations that relied on the guidelines by DG Environment, raising concerns that using one VPF for all member countries of the European Union, and/or VPF figures estimated in a private risk reduction setting, might considerably underestimate the benefits of cleanup policies.

Transfer of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) From Contaminated Feed Into Milk and Meat of Sheep: Pilot Study

A pilot study was performed with dairy sheep to generate the first data on the transfer of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from feed into food of animal origin. Corn silage was cultivated on cropland in Lower Saxony in Germany where, as a result of illegal waste disposal in 2006, farmland was contaminated with perfluorinated alkylacids (PFAAs). Two sheep were exposed by way of PFAA-contaminated corn silage to PFOS (1.16 and 1.45 μg/kg body weight [bw]/d, respectively) and PFOA (0.43 and 0.53 μg/kg bw/d) during a period of 21 days. During the PFAA-feeding period, PFOS levels in plasma increased continuously to maximum concentration of 103 and 240 μg/L for sheep 1 and sheep 2, respectively. The PFOA plasma concentration remained low (sheep 1 = 3.3 ± 2.2 μg/L; sheep 2 = 15.6 ± 8.3 μg/L). Data indicate that urinary excretion is the primary clearance route for PFOA (sheep 1 = 51 %; sheep 2 = 55 %), whereas PFOS excretion by way of urine could not be quantified. The highest PFOS excretion (4 to 5 %) was detected in faeces. PFOS was also excreted at higher levels than PFOA by way of milk. During a period of 21 days, a total PFOS transfer into milk ≤ 2 % was calculated. Overall, total excretion of PFOS was significantly lower compared with that of PFOA (PFOS 6 %; PFOA 53 to 56 %). PFOS levels in sheep 1 and sheep 2 were highest in liver (885 and 1,172 μg/kg weight wet [ww], respectively) and lowest in muscle tissue (24.4 and 35.1 μg/kg ww, respectively). PFOA levels in muscle tissue were low for sheep 2 (0.23 μg/kg ww) and not detectable after the PFAA-free feeding period in sheep 1. A slight background load of PFOS in liver (1.5 μg/kg ww) and kidney (0.3 μg/kg ww) was detected in sheep 3 (control).

Prediction of Chemical Oxygen Demand In Dondang River Using Artificial Neural Network

The increase of human population every year results in increasing of water usage and demand. This phenomenon affects the overall water quality and change the flow of river ecosystems. Various residential and commercial building were built along Dondang river basin in Pulau Pinang. Irresponsible residents and factory manager treat the river as sites for illegal garbage dumping and waste disposal. As an effort to monitor river water quality in Malaysia, Alam Sekitar Malaysia (ASMA) collaborated with Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia to measure water quality parameters every month. The data used for Dondang River was dated from January 1998 until December 2007 at three stations at different sites. Different variables in this model include Dissolve Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Suspended Solid (SS), pH, ammonia (NH 3 ), temperature, nitrate (NO 3 ), total solid (TS) and phosphate (PO4).were used as inputs while the prediction is made for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). The number of hidden layer, processing elements, the value of learning rule and transfer were adjusted to achieve the minimum error and highest prediction accuracy. The prediction of COD were divided into training, cross validation and testing data. The best possible model estimation was choose from the model with higher generalization, less minimum square error and high r squared value. The model estimation then tested with Mean Sensitivity test to check the validity of the model and to determine the factors that affect the value of COD the most.. Sensitivity analysis showed that BOD is the most important variable that determine COD, followed by phosphate concentration, DO, susupended solids and temperature. The results are consistent with the effects of land use on the river water quality as Dondang River flows through mainly housing area and factories or industrial area.