Evaluation of Pollution Profile and Physico-Chemical Parameters of Open Refuse Dumps in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

The increase in solid waste generation in Nigeria, especially in urban cities, has become a major environmental problem resulting from high population growth rate and poor management of the solid wastes. The absence of specialized (sanitary and engineered) landfills has led to the emergence of several open waste refuse dumps in towns and cities which, potentially, constitutes a major threat to surface and groundwater systems. This study analyzed the pollution profile and the potential of some selected refuse dumps in the city of Sokoto for groundwater contamination. The parameters analyzed include cation exchange capacity, exchangeable cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺) and some selected heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb and Mn). The results indicated poor nutrient retention and attenuation capacity of the soil, thereby confirming the potential of groundwater contamination from the leachates produced in the refused dumps