TY - JOUR
T1 - Possibility of Heavy Metals Contaminated Solid Waste from Municipal Waste Disposal Sites in Pangkor Island Perak State, Malaysia
AU - Sakawi, Zaini AU - Atta, Mustapha AU - Fuad Mat Jali, Mohd
JO - Research Journal of Applied Sciences
VL - 8
IS - 1
SP - 14
EP - 21
PY - 2013
DA - 2001/08/19
SN - 1815-932x
DO - rjasci.2013.14.21
UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjasci.2013.14.21
KW - Open landfill
KW -heavy metal
KW -solid waste
KW -Island waste management
KW -Pangkor Island
KW -Malaysia
AB - Inappropriate waste handling and disposal causes many problems
that are acute and widespread. One of these is the decomposition of waste into
constituent chemicals which contaminate air and water systems. This study presents
investigation of possibility of heavy metals contaminated solid waste from municipal
waste disposal sites in Pangkor Island. For this purpose, a total of nine MSW
samples of food, paper and plastic were collected from the Teluk Cempedak disposal
sites in Pangkor Island in 2010 to determine the levels of Cd, Cu Pb and Zn.
Heavy metals were digested by method of strong acid based on the EPA SW 846
method 3050 as stated by Kimbrough and analysed using method of Flame Atomic
Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results were further compared with permissible
limits for Canadian and USEPA compost standards. The highest concentration is
Cu (562.9±6.7015 mg kg-1) and this is observed in paper waste
while the lowest concentration is Pb (6.60±4.9153 mg kg-1)
in plastic waste. Heavy metal concentrations of the wastes were found to be
in the following order: Cu>Zn>Cd>Pb. The mean concentration of Cu (229.20±252.56
mg kg-1) is followed by Zn (93.04±60.67 mg kg-1),
Cd (16.69±8.1841 mg kg-1) and Pb (13.01±7.961 mg kg-1).
The results showed that the concentrations were within the heavy metal limits
of the Canadian and USEPA compost standards. Based on the findings the MSW is
suitable for composting as concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are within permissible
limits for compost.
ER -