Skip to main content
Article | Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution | Volume 2 - Issue 2 - 2022 | 109-125 | https://doi.org/10.53623/tasp.v2i2.107
© 2022 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

The Levels of Heavy Metals in the Soil of Illegal Open Dumpsites in Malaysia

Author(s): Kuok Ho Daniel Tang 1 , Zhu Hang Goh 2
Author(s) information:
1 Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona at Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China.
2 Environmental Engineering Programme, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, Miri, Malaysia

Corresponding author

Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution

Volume 2 - Issue 2 - 2022

 About the journal
Submit your article
This study aims to understand the soil impacts of illegal dumpsites in Malaysia through quantifying the heavy metals in the soil of two dumpsites, one receiving construction waste and the other receiving municipal solid waste. Five soil samples were collected from each dumpsite, and sampling was repeated in the second week to examine the temporal changes in the levels of heavy metals. All sampling was conducted in triplicates. The soil samples were sieved, dried, and digested with aqua regia at 70 °C, after which the digested mixtures were filtered. The filtrates were diluted and tested with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer for heavy metals.
Read Full-Text
Previous article
Next article

Tang, K.H.D. (2021). Phytoextraction of Lead: Its Feasibility, Constraints and Concerns. Asian Soil Research Journal, 5(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.9734/asrj/2021/v5i430113.

Duffus, J.H. (2002). Heavy metals’a meaningless term. Pure and Applied Chemistry, 74(5), 793-807. http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200274050793.

Tchounwou, P.B.; Yedjou, C.G.; Patlolla, A.K.; Sutton, D.J. (2012). Heavy metals toxicity and the environment. Experientia Supplementum, 101, 133–164. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8340-4.

Ngole, V.M.; Ekosse, G.I.E. (2012). Copper, nickel and zinc contamination in soils within the precincts of mining and landfilling environments. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 9(3), 485–494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-012-0055-5.

Tang, Y.Y., Tang, K.H.D.; Maharjan, A.K.; Aziz, A.A.; Bunrith, S. (2021). Malaysia moving towards a sustainability municipal waste management. Industrial and Domestic Waste Management, 1(1), 26–40. http://doi.org/10.53623/idwm.v1i1.51.

Alzamora, B.R.; de V. Barros, R.T. (2020). Review of municipal waste management charging methods in different countries. Waste Management, 115, 47–55. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.07.020.

Waste to energy for a sustainable future. (accessed on 1 Augusts 2022) Available online: https://www.mida.gov.my/waste-to-energy-for-a-sustainable-future/.

Zainun, N.Y.; Rahman, I.A.; Rothman, R.A. (2016). Mapping Of Construction Waste Illegal Dumping Using Geographical Information System (GIS). IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 160, 12049. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/160/1/012049.

Ismail, Z.; Abdullah, S.Z.; Othman, S.Z.; Shirazi, S.M.; Karim, R. (2013). Assessment of the Relative Adequacy of Landfills as a Means of Solid Waste Disposal in Malaysia. CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water, 41(11), 1122–1128. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201200316.

Hussein, M.; Yoneda, K.; Mohd-Zaki, Z.; Amir, A.; Othman, N. (2021). Heavy metals in leachate, impacted soils and natural soils of different landfills in Malaysia: An alarming threat. Chemosphere, 267, 128874. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128874.

Agamuthu, P.; Fauziah, S.H. (2010). Heavy metal pollution in landfill environment: A Malaysian case study. 2010 4th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICBBE.2010.5516886.

Adama, M.; Esena, R.; Fosu-Mensah, B.; Yirenya-Tawiah, D. (2016). Heavy Metal Contamination of Soils around a Hospital Waste Incinerator Bottom Ash Dumps Site. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2016, 8926453. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8926453.

Peng, N.; Li, Y.; Liu, T.; Lang, Q.; Gai, C.; Liu, Z. (2017). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Toxic Heavy Metals in Municipal Solid Waste and Corresponding Hydrochars. Energy & Fuels, 31(2), 1665–1671. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b02964.

Cittadino, A.; Ocello, N.; Majul, M.V.; Ajhuacho, R.; Dietrich, P.; Igarzabal, M.A. (2020). Heavy metal pollution and health risk assessment of soils from open dumps in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192(5), 291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8246-x.

Ogunbanjo, O.; Onawumi, O.; Gbadamosi, M.; Ogunlana, A.; Anselm, O. (2016). Chemical speciation of some heavy metals and human health risk assessment in soil around two municipal dumpsites in Sagamu, Ogun state, Nigeria. Chemical Speciation & Bioavailability, 28(1–4), 142–151. https://doi.org/10.1080/09542299.2016.1203267.

Agbeshie, A.A.; Adjei, R.; Anokye, J.; Banunle, A. (2020). Municipal waste dumpsite: Impact on soil properties and heavy metal concentrations, Sunyani, Ghana. Scientific African, 8, e00390. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00390.

Wijesekara, S.S.R.M.D.H.R.; Mayakaduwa, S.S.; Siriwardana, A.R.; de Silva, N.; Basnayake, B.F.A.; Kawamoto, K.; Vithanage, M. (2014). Fate and transport of pollutants through a municipal solid waste landfill leachate in Sri Lanka. Environmental Earth Sciences, 72(5), 1707–1719. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3075-2.

Mary Joseph, A.; Snellings, R.; Nielsen, P.; Matthys, S.; De Belie, N. (2020). Pre-treatment and utilisation of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ashes towards a circular economy. Construction and Building Materials, 260, 120485. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120485.

Odularu, A.T.; Ajibade, P.A.; Onianwa, P.C. (2013). Comparative Study of Leaching of Aluminium from Aluminium, Clay, Stainless Steel, and Steel Cooking Pots. ISRN Public Health, 2013, 517601. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/517601.

Bojórquez-Quintal, E.; Escalante-Magaña, C.; Echevarría-Machado, I.; Martínez-Estévez, M. (2017). Aluminum, a Friend or Foe of Higher Plants in Acid Soils. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01767.

Tang, K.H.D.; Kristanti, R.A. (2022). Bioremediation of perfluorochemicals: current state and the way forward. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-022-02694-z.

Li, C.; Tang, K.H.D. (2023). Effects of pH and Temperature on the Leaching of Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate and Di-n-butyl Phthalate from Microplastics in Simulated Marine Environment. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC133.269.

Tang, K.H.D. (2020). Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Sarawak State of Malaysia and the Way Forward. Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology, 12(2), 38–55.

Smolders, E.; Brans, K.; Foldi, A.; Merckx, R. (1999). Cadmium fixation in soils measured by isotopic dilution. Soil Science Society of American Journal, 63. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1999.03615995006300010013x.

Kubier, A.; Wilkin, R.T.; Pichler, T. (2019). Cadmium in soils and groundwater: A review. Applied Geochemistry, 108, 104388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2019.104388.

Tang, K.H.D., Awa, S.H.; Hadibarata, T. (2020). Phytoremediation of Copper-Contaminated Water with Pistia stratiotes in Surface and Distilled Water. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 231(12), 573. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04937-9.

Ballabio, C.; Panagos, P.; Lugato, E.; Huang, J.H.; Orgiazzi, A.; Jones, A.; Fernández-Ugalde, O.; Borrelli, P.; Montanarella, L. (2018). Copper distribution in European topsoils: An assessment based on LUCAS soil survey. Science of The Total Environment, 636, 282–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.268.

Lange, B.; van der Ent, A.; Baker, A.J.M.; Echevarria, G.; Mahy, G.; Malaisse, F.; Meerts, P.; Pourret, O.; Verbruggen, N.; Faucon, M.P. (2017). Copper and cobalt accumulation in plants: a critical assessment of the current state of knowledge. New Phytologist, 213(2), 537–551. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14175.

Sun, Q.; Li, T.; Alva, A.K.; Li, Y.C. (2019). Mobility and fractionation of copper in sandy soils. Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability, 31(1), 18–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/09542299.2018.1558114.

Li, W.B.; Yao, J.; Tao, P.P.; Guo, M.T.; Feng, X.Y.; He, Y.N.; Fang, C.R.; Shen, D.S. (2010). A comparative study on two extraction procedures in speciation of iron in municipal solid waste. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 182(1), 640–648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.06.080.

Guerinot, M.L.; Yi, Y. (1994). Iron: Nutritious, Noxious, and Not Readily Available. Plant Physiology, 104(3), 815–820. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.104.3.815.

Sarkar, D.; De, D.K.; Das, R.; Mandal, B. (2014). Removal of organic matter and oxides of iron and manganese from soil influences boron adsorption in soil. Geoderma, 214–215, 213–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.09.009.

Rai, R.K.; Singh, V.P.; Upadhyay, A. (2017). Chapter 2 - Irrigation Project Planning. In Planning and Evaluation of Irrigation projects; Rai, R.K., Singh, V.P., Upadhyay, A., Eds.; Academic Press: Cambridge, USA, pp. 7–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811748-4.00002-9.

Holmgren, G.G.S.; Meyer, M.W.; Chaney, R.L.; Daniels, R.B. (1993). Cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, and nickel in agricultural soils of the United States of America. Journal of Environmental Quality, 22, 335-348. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1993.00472425002200020015x.

Sorahan, T.; Esmen, N.A. (2004). Lung cancer mortality in UK nickel-cadmium battery workers, 1947–2000. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61(2), 108 LP – 116. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2003.009282.

Barrow, N.J. (1993). Mechanisms of Reaction of Zinc with Soil and Soil Components BT - Zinc in Soils and Plants. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Zinc in Soils and Plants, The University of Western Australia, Australia, 27–28 September 1993; Robson, A.D., Ed.; Springer: Amsterdam, Netherlands, pp. 15–31).. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0878-2_2.

Seniunaite, J.; Vasarevicius, S. (2017). Leaching of Copper, Lead and Zinc from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash. Energy Procedia, 113, 442–449. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.04.036.

Contaminated Land Management and Control Guidelines No.1: Malaysian Recommended Site Screening Levels for Contaminated Land. (accessed on 1 Augusts 2022) Available online: https://www.doe.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Contaminated-Land-Management-and-Control-Guidelines-No-1_Malaysian-Recommended-Site-Screening-Levels-for-Contaminated-Land.pdf.

Tang, K.H.D. (2019). The Dilemma of Environmental Impact Assessment in Sarawak, Malaysia. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, 14(3), 3–6.

Tang, K.H.D. (2020). A comparative overview of the primary Southeast Asian safety and health laws. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 13, 601-632. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-10-2019-0132.

Tang, K.H.D. (2020). A Case Study of The Environmental Impact Assessment Legislations In Sarawak, Malaysia. Asia Pacific Journal of Energy and Environment, 7, 47–54. https://doi.org/10.18034/apjee.v7i1.273.

Syed Ismail, S.N.; Ishak, C.F.; Samah, M.A.A.; Hatta, E.M.; Wahab, A.S.A. (2015). Soil contamination from non-sanitary waste landfill in Langat water catchment area, Malaysia. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 7(6), 480–493.

Zaidi, E.; FahrulRazi, M.J.; Azhar, A.T.S.; Hazreek, Z.A.M.; Shakila, A.; Norshuhaila, M.S.; Omeje, M. (2017). Radionuclides (40K,232Th and238U) and Heavy Metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As and Pb) Distribution Assessment at Renggam Landfill, Simpang Renggam, Johor, Malaysia. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 226, 12070. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/226/1/012070.

Chen, W.; Li, L.; Chang, A.C.; Wu, L.; Chaney, R.L.; Smith, R. (2009). Characterizing the solid-solution partitioning coefficient and plant uptake factor of As, Cd, and Pb in California croplands. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 129, 212-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2008.09.001.

Grosbois, C.; Meybeck, A.; Horowitz, A.; Ficht, A. (2006). The spatial and temporal trends of Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn in Seine River floodplain deposits (1994–2000). Science of the Total Environment, 356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.01.049.

Buekers, J.; Degryse, F.; Maes, A.; Smolders, E. (2008). Modelling the effects of ageing on Cd, Zn, Ni and Cu solubility in soils using an assemblage model. European Journal of Soil Science, 59, 22-37. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2008.01053.x.

Tang, K.H.D. (2019). Phytoremediation of Soil Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons: A Review of Recent Literature. Global Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1, 33–42. https://doi.org/10.36811/gjcee.2019.110006.

Read Full-Text
About this article

SUBMITTED: 02 August 2022
ACCEPTED: 16 August 2022
PUBLISHED: 16 August 2022
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 14 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/tasp.v2i2.107

Cite this article
Tang, K. H. D., & Goh, Z. H. (2022). The Levels of Heavy Metals in the Soil of Illegal Open Dumpsites in Malaysia. Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution, 2(2), 109–125. https://doi.org/10.53623/tasp.v2i2.107
Keywords
Illegal dumpsites heavy metals soil contamination construction waste municipal waste
Accessed
1172
Citations
0
Share this article