Closed Landfill: Hazards Due to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Heavy Metals

Nor Amani Filzah Mohd Kamil of University of Tun Hussein Onn and Professor Dr Suhaimi Abdul Talib of University of Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia evaluated a closed landfill located at Kubang Badak, Selangor, Malaysia.

Their focus was on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. Ten soil samples were collected, and the PAHs were extracted, and analysed in a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer, while the heavy metals were digested with MAE and analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma.

The concentrations of PAHs were compared to guidelines from Canada, Netherlands and Denmark while the concentrations of heavy metals were compared to the guidelines from the United Kingdom. Results showed that 12 PAHs compounds were distributed consistently.

The most abundant was phenanthrene with an average value of 62.02 ìg/kg. Heavy metals Zn was found the most abundant ranging from 256.9-666.05 mg/kg. This is followed by Mn (29.05-262.5 mg/kg), V (3.85-174.65 mg/kg), Ga (34.4- 182 mg/kg), Rb (63.7-135.8 mg/kg), Cr (37.8-136.85 mg/kg), Sr (0-158.2 mg/kg), Mg (16.1-173.6 mg/kg), Cu (0-201.6 mg/kg) and Pb (0.7—89.25 mg/kg). Two heavy metals, Cr and As, were found to have concentrations above concentration limits permissible for residential activities. Whilst PAHs compounds were distributed uniformly, heavy metals were not. These findings implicated that landfill area is not suitable for residential area development as the concentrations of Cr and As are above permissible limits.

Information Contacts:

Nor Amani Filzah Mohd Kamil
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
86400 BatuPahat, Johor
Malaysia
Suhaimi Abdul-Talib
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Universiti Teknologi MARA,
40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia
noramani@uthm.edu.my