Workshop on Sustainable Landfill Management

3–5 December, 2003, Chennai, India, pp.139-145

Assessment of Heavy Metals in a

Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite

S. Esakku, K. Palanivelu and Kurian Joseph

Centre for Environmental Studies, Anna University, Chennai–600 025
E-mail: isaac1963@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT
Unorganized dumping of solid waste is predominant in developing countries like India and cause
adverse impacts to the environment. Sources such as electronic goods, electro plating waste, painting
waste, used batteries, etc., when dumped with municipal solid wastes increase the heavy metals in
dumpsites. Similarly solid waste dumping without the separation of hazardous waste can raise toxic
environmental effects. Slow leaching of these heavy metals under acidic environment during the
degradation process leads to leachates with high metal concentrations. Since leachates are one of the
potential sources of ground water pollution, monitoring heavy metal content in dumpsite can facilitate
to recommend suitable remedial measures. Thus the assessment of heavy metal contents in landfill
waste is a pre requisite of landfill mining, especially when the wastes are used as manures.

This paper discusses the trace metal contents in fine fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) collected
from different depth levels of Perungudi dumping ground (PDG), near Chennai. The leachates were
also collected and analyzed from the same sampling area. Heavy metal concentrations of these
samples were compared with the water extracts prepared from the MSW fine fraction. The
concentrations of As, Hg, Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn were estimated and found to be in mg/kg level in
MSW while in µg/L in leachates and water extracts. In certain cases, metal contents are beyond the
limits prescribed for compost by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). However, all values are
within the acceptable limits of United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) standards.

1. INTRODUCTION

India is becoming a dumping ground for electronic waste especially used computers from United States,
Singapore and South Korea which contains hazardous metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury.
Statement from an environmental report reveals that about seventy percent of the heavy metals found in
landfills come from electronic wastes (Toxics Link, 2003). Further, small scale industries located in urban
areas often dispose of their wastes along with municipal solid wastes.

The environmental problem with heavy metals is that they are unaffected during degradation of organic
waste and have toxic effects on living organisms when exceeding a certain concentration. When the
compost from MSW is used as manure some heavy metals are being subject to bioaccumulation and
may cause risk to human health when transferred to the food chain. Exposure of heavy metals may
cause blood and bone disorders, kidney damage and decreased mental capacity and neurological
damage (NIEHS, 2002). Therefore, heavy metal needs serious attention before the application of
compost made from MSW. In certain cases the metal contents exceed the specified limits (Merian,
1991; Cebula et al., 1995). The occurrence of cadmium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc in
MSW compost was reported by Ciba et al. (1999).

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Landfill leachates from unlined landfills pose an important hazard for the environment. Several cases of
ground water pollution from landfill leachates were reported (Arneth et al., 1989). Aurangabadkar et al.
(2001) investigated the impact of MSW dumpsite on ground water quality at Perungudi. The present
study was aimed to assess the heavy metals in MSW fines and landfill leachates at this dumpsite with
the following objectives:

• To evaluate the pollution potential due to heavy metals from Perungudi dumpsite
• To test the suitability of the mined waste to use as compost by comparing its metal contents with
specified standards for compost
• To study the depth wise variation of metal contents in MSW fine fraction
• To determine the trace metal concentration in landfill leachates to evaluate the ground water
pollution potential of these leachates
• To compare the leachability of metals from MSW at different leaching fluids.

2. EXPERIMENTAL
2.1. Site Description
Chennai is one of the four metropolitan cities in India with a population of about five million. The current
solid waste generation from the city is about 3500 t/day. This waste is disposed by open dumping at the
Kodungaiyur and Perungudi. The Perungudi dumping ground is low lying and poorly drained being
occupied by extensive areas of marshy land permanently wet and seasonally inundates. Solid waste
dumping at PDG is in operation since 1987(Aurangabadkar et al., 2001). Total area of this site is about
250 ha in which about 22 ha is used for dumping with a current dumping rate of 1750 t/day. Perungudi
dumping ground lies at 12° 57’ 13.5” North and 80° 14’ 5.8” East.

2.2. Sampling Methodology

2.2.1. Solid wastes
Municipal solid waste samples were collected using augur following the ‘Guidelines for environmental
monitoring at Municipal Solid Waste Landfills’ of Ministry of water, land and Air protection, Government
of British Columbia (1996). Sampling points were selected as the corners of equilateral triangle of 30 m.
Boreholes were drilled with a 15 cm manual auger up to 3 m. Samples were collected together for every
1 m interval (0-1 m, 1-2 m and 2-3 m). In some boreholes, drilling process was terminated at about 2 m
depth due to the blocking by stones. Samples were properly labeled and brought to the laboratory for
analyses. A total of 12 samples were collected from six boreholes during August 2001.

2.2.2. Leachates
In the boreholes, from which the solid samples were collected, perforated PVC pipes of 10 cm dia. were
inserted and the top ends of the pipes were covered with locking facility for leachate collection. A total of
7 leachate samples were collected for monitoring purpose. These leachates were filtered and preserved
for soluble heavy metal analysis with a drop of conc. nitric acid.

2.3. Extractions
After complete air-drying of MSW, the fine fraction (<2 mm) was separated using a horizontal vibrating
screen. Water extracts, Toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) extracts and Acid digests of
the MSW fine fraction for heavy metals analyses were prepared as detailed below.

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2.3.1. Water Extracts

Twenty five grams of MSW fine fraction was mixed with 250 mL of distilled water and shaked in a
mechanical shaker for 24 h. Then filtered and preserved for analysis.

2.3.2. TCLP Extracts

The sample pH was determined in water extract prepared by mixing 5 g sample in 96.5 mL distilled
water and found to be above neutral. Therefore, this mixture was treated with 3.5 mL of 1N HCl, and the
pH was found to be less than 3. TCLP extraction fluid I was prepared by mixing of acetic acid and
sodium hydroxide as per USEPA procedure and the pH was adjusted to 4.99. 50 g of MSW fine fraction
was added with 1 L of extraction fluid I in TCLP bottles and rotated at a speed of 30 RPM for 18 h in
TCLP extractor. Filtered extracts were preserved for heavy metals analyses.

2.3.3. Acid Digests

For the determination of total metal content, aqua regia extract of MSW fine fractions was prepared by
digesting 3 g of sample with 25 mL of aqua regia (HCl + HNO3 , 3+1 v/v) at 120° C using a behrotest
digester with a TRS200 microprocessor controller. After cooling and filtration the aliquot was made up
to known volume.

2.4. Instruments
Vario-6 Atomic absorption spectrometer (Analytic Jena, Germany) with D2 background correction lamp
was used for the heavy metal content determination. Acetylene-Air flame was used for higher
concentrations (mg/L) while electro thermal atomisation in graphite furnace with Ar as carrier gas was
employed for lower concentrations (µg/L). Arsenic was determined by hydride generation technique with
NaBH4 as reducing agent. Cold vapour AAS determination of mercury was carried out with MA5840
mercury analyser (Electronic Corporation of India Ltd.).

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1. Solid Wastes

The statistical analysis of the results of heavy metal contents of the MSW fine fractions collected from
different locations at different depth levels are presented in Table 1. The concentrations of arsenic,
mercury and cadmium are comparatively less than that obtained for the other metals. The descending
order of heavy metal contents in PDG is zinc, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, cadmium, arsenic and
mercury. Comparison of the metal contents with Indian standards for compost shows that the
concentrations of Hg, Cr and Pb exceed the limits. When USEPA regulation limits are considered all the
metals are under the specified limits. Hence the fine fraction of the composted waste can be applied to
non-edible crops and also as the cover material if it is geotechnically suitable. However, the metal
content will increase with the volume reduction during biodegradation (Das et al., 2002). Therefore the
finished product before its application has to be tested for its metal content. Similar study by Pascal et al.
(1997) has shown that the compost generated from urban MSW contains heavy metals less than the
regulatory limits. The typical concentrations of metals in MSW compost obtained from several US
composting facilities are 2.6, 2.9, 34.8, 154, 215, 248 & 503 mg/kg for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni & Zn,
respectively (Epstein et al., 1992). Comparison of these values with Table 1 shows that Cr is the only
metal having higher concentration in PDG. This may be attributed to the dumping of Cr containing
wastes with MSW.

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Table 1: Summary of Statistics of Heavy Metal Content in MSW Fine Fraction

S.No Particulars Hg As Cd Ni Pb Cu Cr Zn

1 Minimum 0.039 0.077 0.820 21.0 53.0 75.0 110.0 167.0

2 Maximum 0.78 1.561 1.77 50.0 112.0 217.0 261.0 503.0

3 Median 0.21 0.451 1.28 33 85 105 129.5 230.5

4 Mean ± SD 0.29±0.22 0.57±0.38 1.29±0.31 32±8 86±16 113±42 140±40 284±111

5 Indian Compost 0.15 10.0 5.0 50 100 300 50 1000

Standards *

6 USEPA Compost 17.0 41.0 39.0 420 300 1500 1200 2800
Standards **

All the values are in mg/kg. No. of samples: 12

* MSW (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000.
** US Composting Council, 1997.

The depth wise variation of heavy metal content of MSW fine fraction is shown in Figure 1. Higher
concentrations of heavy metals observed at the middle layer (1-2 m) may be due the downward
migration of leachates. Further, the low concentrations at the top layer may be attributed to
phytoextraction of metals by natural vegetation. Since the bottom layer (2-3 m) is saturated with landfill
leachates, the lowest concentrations were noticed. Similar trend was noticed for the metals zinc,
chromium, copper, lead and nickel.
350
0-1m 1-2m 2-3m
300

250

200
mg/kg

150

100

50

0
Zn Cr Cu Pb Ni

FIGURE 1. Depth-Wise Variation of Heavy Metals in PDG

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 Assessment of Heavy Metals in a Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite

3.2. Leachates
Heavy metals concentration in the leachates collected from the sampling locations were analyzed and
were found to be in microgram levels (Table.2). This may be attributed to the pH, flow rate and
concentration of complexing agents. The pH values of the leachates were in the range of 7.2 to 8.3.
Metal solubility generally decreases with increasing pH (Gould et al., 1989). This is due to the
precipitation of metal ions as insoluble hydroxides at high pH values (7.6-8.3).

Table 2: Heavy Metal Content in Landfill Leachates

S.No. As Cd Cr Cu Hg Ni Pb Zn
1 2.38 8.0 70.72 137 1.7 328 473 80
2 2.74 8.0 125.0 102 1.7 322 606 104
3 2.89 15.0 5.90 42 8.3 277 319 BDL
4 3.45 26.0 60.23 8 1.7 591 466 220
5 0.17 16.0 200.0 108 1.7 392 396 221
6 1.07 17.0 61.35 96 6.7 255 268 35
7 6.86 14.0 79.52 23 1.7 285 299 27
Typical* - 1 50 20 to - 100 to 100 to 500 to
values to100 to1000 1000 1000 1000 30000
* Jones-Lee and Lee, 1993. All values are in µg/L & average of 5 determinations

3.3. Heavy Metals Leaching from MSW Fine Fraction

In order to evaluate the nature of leaching of heavy metals from MSW, fine fractions at various pH levels,
TCLP extraction (pH 4.99) and water extraction (pH 6.68) were carried out on samples collected from
same locations and the metal contents are comparatively presented in Figure 2 along with that obtained
for landfill leachates (pH 7.6-8.3) of the same location. Cadmium shows the lowest concentration of less
than 30 µg/L in all the three extracts. Copper concentration was in the range of 40 to 80 µg/L. The
difference in concentration noticed in these three methods of leaching for these two metals is less with
an increasing order of water extract, leachate and TCLP. This is due to the difference in pH of the
extraction fluids. The solubility ranges for Ni and Pb were found to be 100 to 300 µg/L and 200 to 500
µg/L, respectively. Higher concentrations of these metals obtained in water extracts may be due to the
presence of water soluble salts of nickel and lead in MSW fine fractions. Very high concentration of Zn
(>2000 µg/L) observed in TCLP extract can be attributed to the high concentration of Zn in MSW and
also due to the interaction of Zn with acetic acid which can enhance the solubility of zinc.

For all metals, the lowest solubility was found in water extracts. Trace metal concentrations in landfill
leachates were well within the Indian standards for disposal of treated leachates (Public sewer). Similar
comparison of TCLP results for Pb and Cd for which the TCLP regulatory limits are available with
USEPA, indicated that they were well within specified limits.

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10000
TCLP
m icro g ra m p e r L itre

1000 Water
Extracts

100 Leachates

10

1
Cd Cu Ni Pb Zn

FIGURE 2. Heavy Metals Leaching from MSW Fine Fraction

4. CONCLUSION

Arsenic, cadmium and mercury contents in MSW fine fraction of PDG were less than 2 mg/kg. The
descending order of heavy metal contents is zinc, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, cadmium, arsenic and
mercury. Comparison of heavy metal contents with Indian standards for compost shows that mercury,
chromium and lead exceed the limits. When compared with USEPA standards, all are within the
standard limits. The middle layer of the waste deposit shows higher metal contents than the top and
bottom layers.

After determining the geotechnical suitability and heavy metal content of the finished product, the mined
waste can be used as compost for non-edible crops or as cover material.

Landfill leachates are less polluted with heavy metals due to high pH values. TCLP and water extract
analyses of the MSW fine fraction indicates the lower pollution potential.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We sincerely thank the Swedish International Developmental Agency (SIDA) and Asian Institute of
Technology (AIT), Bangkok for the financial support rendered to carry out the research work. We also
thank the Corporation of Chennai for the permission to carryout the studies at the dumpsites and Shri.
N.Narayamoorthy, Junior Technical Assistant (SIDA), for his assistance in preparation of this paper.

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