'THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LANDFILL ON THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS THE HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS

Landfills are a major contributor to the world’s anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions because an enormous amount of CH4 and CO2 are generated from the degradation process of deposited waste in landfills . Landfill operation is usually associated with contamination of surface and groundwater by leachate from the landfill (mostly if the landfill lacks adequate liners), pungent odour, loud disturbing noise from landfill bulldozers, bioaerosol emissions; volatile organic compounds . The storage of leachate in open lagoons can influence the levels of odours experienced in a landfill site. Residents living close to landfill sites have shown concern due to several hazardous pollutants emanating from landfill operations . Some other pollutants associated with deposition of waste on landfills include litter, dust, excess rodents, unexpected landfill fires, etc.. The factors that influences the by-product or emissions from landfills include the kind and quantity of waste deposited, the age of the landfill, and the climatic conditions of the landfill sites. Complex chemical and microbiological reactions within the landfill often lead to the formation of several gaseous pollutants, persistent organic pollutants (such as dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), heavy metals and particulate matter.

The continuous inhalation of CH4 by humans can cause loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting and high concentration can cause death. Acidic gases like nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and halides have harmful effects on the health and environment when introduced.Studies have shown that when nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide are inhaled or ingested by humans, symptoms such as nose and throat irritations, bronchoconstriction, dysproca and respiratory infections are prevalent, especially in asthmatic patients. These effects can trigger asthma attacks in asthmatic patients. In addition, high contact of NO2 by humans increases the susceptibility to respiratory infections . Furthermore, when these acidic gases reach the atmosphere, they tend to acidify the moisture in the atmosphere and fall down as acid rain. Identified that sulphur dioxide has harmful effects on plant growth and productivity. In addition, humans are at the risk of reduced lung function, asthma, ataxia, paralysis, vomiting emphyserra and lung cancer when heavy metals are inhaled or ingested. Illnesses like, high blood pressure and anaemia have been shown to be caused by heavy metal pollution [17,21,22]. Additionally, when in contact in high proportions, heavy metals affect the nervous system which causes neurotoxicity leading to neuropathies with symptoms like memory disturbances, sleep disorders, anger, fatigue, head tremors, blurred vision and slurred speech. It can also cause kidney damage like initial tubular dysfunction, risk of stone formation or nephrocalcinosis, and renal cancer. When humans are exposed to a high amount of lead, it can cause injury to the dopamine system, glutamate system and N-methyl-D-Asp.