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Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of Solous Municipal Solid Waste Landfills using Soil Properties and Earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae)
AMADI, CS; ANIKWE, JC; OBANYA, HE & OKOROAFOR, CU
Abstract
This study assessed the effects of Solous Municipal Solid Waste Landfills on soil properties, heavy
metal contamination and macro-invertebrates (earthworms). Soil and earthworm samples were collected from Solous
municipal solid waste landfills with reference samples obtained from the Botanical Garden, University of Lagos and taken
to the laboratory for analyses using standard methods. Results showed that pH and organic matter values of soil samples
from the landfills ranged from 8.51±0.88 to 9.85±0.02 and 5.79±0.53 % to 7.11±1.19 % respectively, and they were
statistically (P < .05) higher than the values of the reference samples. Most of the assessed heavy metals in soil and
earthworms from the landfills were significantly (P < .05) higher when compared to the reference samples. The antioxidant
enzymes and lipoperoxidation product levels were significantly (P < .05) higher in earthworms from most of the landfills
in relation to the reference samples. The mean total protein concentrations in annelids from the landfills were lower than
the mean concentration in the reference samples, however, only those from two of the landfills (Solous B and C) were
significant (P < .05). Histological studies showed that the clitella of earthworms from the landfills had abnormalities such
as disruption of body wall muscle layers, cellular degeneration, oedematous longitudinal muscle, and dark brown
pigments. Solous Landfills had an obvious effect on the assessed abiotic and biotic parameters, and could be a source of
heavy metal pollution in nearby vicinities especially their groundwater sources and surface water.
Keywords
Biochemical markers; Bioindicator; Eudrilus eugeniae; Heavy metals; Landfill; Soil properties.
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