Impact assessment of a solid waste dump site on it host environment: Particulate Matter

Burning of solid waste openly has contributed greatly to the degradation of ambient air quality, thus having a harmful effect on environment, animals, materials and human. This study employs a mass-based solid waste characterization method and also looks at the parameter such as ash content of the solid waste. Met One GT 331 mass monitor was employed to assess the levels of particulate matter and Total suspended particles (TSP) at ten sampling points on a dumpsite when the solid wastes were combusted. The study characterized 35.151 kg of solid waste with food waste, nylon, plastic, metals, paper and textile contributing to the major components in the study area with 23.46%, 27.64%, 7.30%, 3.29%, 24.32%, and 13.98% respectively. The percentage ash content was 7.12%, 7.09%, 21.41%, 29.16%, 8.88% and 7.58% respectively for food waste, nylon, plastic, paper, textile and composite waste. The 24 hr extrapolated concentrations for PM2.5, PM10 and TSP were ranged 1.97 –23.48 µg/m
³
, 12.70 –796.62 µg/m
³
and 17.38 - 882.27 µg/m
³
respectively. The extrapolated concentration for TSP breach the standard limit by FEPA for two days of the study.