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<p>Improper and unscientific management of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites has increasingly become a pressing environmental issue especially in the mountainous regions worldwide. In view of this, an attempt was made to assess the detrimental effects of MSW landfill on the natural water sources at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. Further, the suitability of potential landfill site and dispersion of pollutant air masses were stipulated using Arc GIS and HYSPLIT model. The findings show a discernible increase in electrical conductivity (323–858 μS/cm) and total dissolved solids (1086–1144&#xa0;mg/kg levels) during sampling period. The results exhibited a notable increasing trend in the mean concentrations of heavy metals viz. As (0.13&#xa0;mg/kg and 0.10&#xa0;mg/kg), Hg (0.52&#xa0;mg/kg and 0.65&#xa0;mg/kg), Pb (0.10&#xa0;mg/kg and 0.06&#xa0;mg/kg), Zn (30.40&#xa0;mg/kg and 0.22&#xa0;mg/kg), Cd (0.46&#xa0;mg/kg and 0.04&#xa0;mg/kg), Cr (0.10&#xa0;mg/kg and 0.05&#xa0;mg/kg), Ni (0.28&#xa0;mg/kg and 0.10&#xa0;mg/kg), Mn (24.40&#xa0;mg/kg and 0.35&#xa0;mg/kg) and Fe (1.81&#xa0;mg/kg and 0.96&#xa0;mg/kg) during monsoon and post monsoon. High HPI values were observed at the sampling location near to landfill drain (9060), followed by spring site (7338). However, most of sampling points consistently exceeding the critical HPI value, across all seasons, indicated a severe level of heavy metal pollution, where sampling sites near to landfill drain pose significant environmental health risks of 63%. An overwhelming 93% population in vicinity of MSW site expressed their concern that the current landfill site poses substantial threat to their health and livestock. Furthermore, the obtained forward trajectories showed the downhill dispersion of polluted air arising from solid waste burning. A continuous monitoring of landfill leachate dynamics, atmospheric pollutants due to burning of waste and their potential impact on regional climate followed by appropriate adaptation strategies will be a promising step towards a sustainable future for the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).</p>

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The perils of open landfill: a study on environmental risk assessment in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年1月20日

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  • Shikha Rawal,
  • Riju Antany,
  • Shanta Kumar,
  • Jose George Pottakkal,
  • Anurag Linda

摘要

Improper and unscientific management of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites has increasingly become a pressing environmental issue especially in the mountainous regions worldwide. In view of this, an attempt was made to assess the detrimental effects of MSW landfill on the natural water sources at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. Further, the suitability of potential landfill site and dispersion of pollutant air masses were stipulated using Arc GIS and HYSPLIT model. The findings show a discernible increase in electrical conductivity (323–858 μS/cm) and total dissolved solids (1086–1144 mg/kg levels) during sampling period. The results exhibited a notable increasing trend in the mean concentrations of heavy metals viz. As (0.13 mg/kg and 0.10 mg/kg), Hg (0.52 mg/kg and 0.65 mg/kg), Pb (0.10 mg/kg and 0.06 mg/kg), Zn (30.40 mg/kg and 0.22 mg/kg), Cd (0.46 mg/kg and 0.04 mg/kg), Cr (0.10 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg), Ni (0.28 mg/kg and 0.10 mg/kg), Mn (24.40 mg/kg and 0.35 mg/kg) and Fe (1.81 mg/kg and 0.96 mg/kg) during monsoon and post monsoon. High HPI values were observed at the sampling location near to landfill drain (9060), followed by spring site (7338). However, most of sampling points consistently exceeding the critical HPI value, across all seasons, indicated a severe level of heavy metal pollution, where sampling sites near to landfill drain pose significant environmental health risks of 63%. An overwhelming 93% population in vicinity of MSW site expressed their concern that the current landfill site poses substantial threat to their health and livestock. Furthermore, the obtained forward trajectories showed the downhill dispersion of polluted air arising from solid waste burning. A continuous monitoring of landfill leachate dynamics, atmospheric pollutants due to burning of waste and their potential impact on regional climate followed by appropriate adaptation strategies will be a promising step towards a sustainable future for the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).