Level of Pollution on Surrounding Environment from Landfill Aftercare

Abstract

This work examines how the pollution from landfill aftercare effect the surrounding area and water basins. The subject of the study was a closed landfill where waste was disposed of without any accounting and operation of the landfill. During the study, soil, surface water, and sediment samples were taken over a two-year period. The data obtained compared with the maximum allowable concentrations established in the Northern part of Lithuania. The water sampling sites were selected taking into account the direction of the water flow, and the landfill was found to influence the water quality. Within 500 meters before the landfill, heavy metals and metalloid concentrations did not exceed the maximum allowable concentrations (Pb ≤ 20 µg/L; Ni ≤ 40 µg/L; Cr ≤ 100 µg/L; Cu ≤ 100 µg/L and As ≤ 20 µg/L). Soil and water sediment contamination factor and contamination level were determined for each metal and metalloid individually, which showed that as a single chemical element and its compounds none of them pose any danger to the environment. A different situation can be seen when calculating the total level of contamination, taking into account all pollutants classified as very hazardous, Zd > 10. The results showed that monitoring (of surface water, including soil) and investigations, helping to reduce negative environmental impact, should be continued in the closed landfill.