A Holistic Model of Leakage Risk Assessment in a Hazardous Waste Landfill

Abstract

Risk-based method has been increasingly frequently used by regulators and managers in modern landfill to scientifically manage solid waste and reduce its environmental hazards. As far as hazardous waste landfill is concerned, the main risk can be identified as the leakage of leachate. To quantify the uncertainties and its influences on risk assessment of leachate leakage, EPACMTP model with the involvement of Monte Carlo method is used to propagate the randomness of input parameters; Fault tree analysis method is employed to compute the uncertainties of liner damage; and the last, health risk assessment model was also integrated into to form a holistic model of leakage risk assessment.. A hazards waste landfill located in the southwest China is taken as a case study. The assessment result indicates that 1) the main exposure pathway is oral intake;2) The total non-carcinogenic risks for adult and for child are, accordingly, equal to 0.68 and 0.75, which under most circumstance is acceptable.