Human health risk assessment of heavy metals from Bhalaswa Landfill, New Delhi, India

Abstract

A landfill is the most common method of organized waste disposal, and in developing countries like India, landfills continue to be the most commonly practised form of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal due to their economic advantages. Bhalaswa landfill site, located in north-eastern part of Delhi, came into operation in 1993. It has an area of 21.06 acres; this land was once used for sugar cane plantation. About 6 ha is devoted to a composting facility. This is an unlined landfill, and only has a layer of waste construction material topped with soil instead of a layer of plastic required for a secure landfill. Approximately, 2,200 tonnes of MSW is buried in the landfill every day. The landfill has already reached about 22 m of height, and is past its closure date of November 2009. A very pertinent danger to human health from landfills such as Bhalaswa is the domestic use of groundwater that has been contaminated by leachate. Contaminants are leached from the solid waste as water percolates through the landfill and mixes with ground water. The heavy metals usually pose a threat in a landfill when they enter the leachate. The motivation for this study was the fact that the health risk posed by heavy metals is serious, and requires immediate remedial measures.