CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 General introduction

       Rapid increase in population and change in life style in Nigeria have resulted in a dramatic increase in the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW). It includes domestic as well as commercial waste that accounts for a relatively small part of the total solid waste stream in developed countries. Accumulation of a large amount of waste may create several problems to inhabiting populations. Population growth has been contributing to increase in the quality and variety of waste. Collection, transportation and handling of the waste if not properly dealt with, can create a number of problems, many of which are related to human health and environment^1,2. Municipal solid waste management is an important part of the urban infrastructure that ensures the protection of environment and human health^3,4. The accelerated growth of urban population with unplanned urbanization, increasing economic activities and lack of training in modern solid waste management practices in developing countries complicates the efforts to improve solid waste services⁵.

However, the unsettling problem is that dumping the waste on soil is one means which the soil quality is degraded.  The polluted soil affects human health through direct human contact or inhalation of the polluted airborne dust and the consumption of the garden vegetables grown on abandoned dumpsites or around active dumpsites⁶. Solid waste management has become a global problem especially in the developing countries of the world. In Nigeria, for instance it is not unusual to see heaps of garbage in the major cities littering the streets, dumped in drains, vacant plots, and water bodies, and this has in many cases resulted in spread of communicable diseases⁷. The situation appears to continue unabated due largely to the factors of urbanization, population growth, improved life style and insufficient funds to properly manage solid waste⁷. Improper management of solid waste areas has resulted in serious ecological, environmental and health problems. Such practices contribute to widespread environmental pollution as well as spread of diseases⁸. Solid waste disposal methods are a major public concern. Majority of the municipal solid waste disposal sites in Nigeria are still open dumps. Solid waste disposal by landfill poses a threat to groundwater and surface water quality through the formation of polluting liquids known as leachate⁹.

 Leachate generally comes into existence during dissolution in the landfill. The environments can be polluted by the leachate, which occurs at the end of decayed solid waste, mixed with precipitates of surface water. As a result, surface water collection system (rivers, creeks, lakes), subsurface collection system (groundwater reservoirs) and solid system (different soil layers) have been seriously polluted by this leachate⁹. Landfills are one of the sources of groundwater and soil pollution due to the production of leachate and transportation of the contamination to farther points in the ecosystem⁸. The contaminations of soil, water and air with heavy metals even at low concentrations are known to have potential impact on environment and human health. These metals also pose a long-term risk to groundwater and ecosystem in general^10,11. The WHO, had confirmed the effects of lead intake to include, abortion, infant mortality, malformation of foetus, genetic mutation, retarded growth, intoxication, depression of respiration and chromosomal aberrations. Based on these, researchers postulated ways of controlling the generation of wastes and effects on the environment¹².

       Environmental monitoring refers to the set of activities that provide chemical, physical, geological, biological and environmental, social or health data required by environmental managers¹³. Environmental monitoring involves the systematic collection of data to determine: The actual environmental effects of a contaminant. The compliance of contaminant with regulatory standards; or the degree of implementation and success of environmental protection measures when successfully integrated with the environmental system for the project, environmental monitoring can provide valuable feedback about the effectiveness of environmental protection measures and in turn monitoring may be related to the post project evaluation^12,13.

       Monitoring of soil quality indicators over time identifies changes or trends in the functional status or quality of the soil. Monitoring can be used to determine the success of management practices or the need for additional management changes or adjustments^14,15. In Nigeria, agencies like the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), Ministry of Environment, and Environmental Sanitation Authorities and even local authorities are responsible for planning a defined line of action for disposal and management of waste generated on daily basis in our society. Gombe States Environmental Protection Agency (GOSEPA) is not an exception. The report that refuse dumps have caused traffic delays in some strategic parts of our urban centre’s is an example of poor management of refuse dumps in Nigeria towns and cities¹⁶.

       The residents of the present study area use borehole water, which is located close to the dumpsite for drinking and other domestics activities and they also use the soil around the dumpsite is used for farming activities. It is necessary to periodically examine wastes and some pollutants effect on soil and groundwater through soil and water analysis. This will go a long way in providing information needed for the development of techniques for tackling the problem of soil and groundwater pollution and effect of municipal solid wastes on the environment through proper disposal/management strategies.