Effect of Solid Waste on Heavy Metal Composition of Soil and Water at Nathiagali-Abbottabad

Abstract

This experiment concluded that the waste material produced tangible impacts on soil and water system of Nathiagali. The dumping of waste resulted in a marked increase in the concentration of metals in soils and the measured metals varied in the order of Mn > Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cu. The metal species were found higher on the site of waste accumulation and decreased with the increasing distance from the dumping site. The dumping place had the highest soil EC as compared to the nearby soils. The pH trend was found apparently inconsistent. Water samples exhibited higher content of heavy metals. This could be attributed to the leachates percolated from the solid and liquid wastes. Metal concentrations were found in excess to the WHO water quality standards. Therefore, an effective awareness, recycling and land filling techniques for the solid waste management in the study area is urgently needed