ABSTRACT
The study investigated the impacts of the Pantang and Mallam landfill sites in the Greater
Accra Region on the surrounding environment. The Pantang landfill site is an active site
that still receives waste of all kinds from various parts of Accra. The Mallam landfill, on
the other hand, was decommissioned over a decade ago. Samples of leachate from the
two landfill sites and air in the vicinity of the respective sites were taken over a period of
three months and analysed. Soil samples were also taken from locations upslope and
down slope of the Pantang landfill site and ground water was sampled from two wells,
one about 30 metres from the Pantang landfill and the other about 150 metres away from
the Pantang landfill site. The leachate, air, soil and groundwater samples were analysed in
the laboratory for their physical and chemical constituents. Leachate, air, soil and
groundwater samples from the Pantang landfill were coded PL, PA, PS and PG,
respectively, and leachate and air from the Mallam landfill were coded M1L, MA.
The pH of leachate from Pantang landfill ranged from 8.00-8.9 pH units (mean 8.35). The
highest pH of leachate from the Pantang landfill was measured in March and the least in
April. The turbidity of leachate from the Pantang landfill ranged from 93-309 NTU
(mean 213.97). The highest turbidity of leachate from the Pantang landfill was measured
in March and the least in February. The PM10 in air sampled from the vicinity of the
Pantang landfill a ranged from 250.00 - 680.56 ug/m3
(mean 527.78). The highest PM10
of air sampled from the vicinity of the Pantang landfill was recorded in April and the
least in March. The TSP in air sampled from the vicinity of the Pantang landfill a ranged
from ranged from 291.67 - 875.00 ug/m3
(mean 665.56). The highest TSP of air sampled
from the vicinity of the Pantang landfill was recorded in April and the least in March.
iv
The pH of soil sampled from the vicinity of the Pantang landfill ranged from 8.07 - 8.97
pH units (mean of 8.51) and the soil organic matter content from 4.243- 10.659 mg/kg
(mean 7.523 mg/kg). The highest pH of soil sampled from the vicinity of the Pantang
landfill was measured in February and the least in March. The highest soil organic matter
content was measured in March and the least also in March but at different sampling
locations. The pH of groundwater sampled from the Pantang landfill ranged of 6.84-7.4
pH units (mean 7.180) for well one and 7.56-8.6 (mean 8.06) for well two. The turbidity
of groundwater sampled from the Pantang landfill ranged from 3.1- 4.6NTU (mean 4.0)
for well one and 31.4-35 (mean 33.70) for well two.
The pH of the leachate sampled from the Mallam landfill ranged from 8.15 -8.90 (mean
8.39). The highest pH of the leachate sampled from the Mallam landfill was measured in
February and the least in March. The turbidity of the leachate sampled from the Mallam
landfill ranged from 194 – 127 NTU (mean 152). The highest turbidity of the leachate
sampled from the Mallam landfill was measured in March and the least in February and
April. The PM10 of the air sampled from the vicinity of the Mallam landfill ranged from
13.89 - 27.78 (mean 23.15). The highest PM10 of the air sampled from the vicinity of the
Mallam landfill was recorded in April and the least in March. The TSP of the air sampled
from the vicinity of the Mallam landfill ranged from ranged from 27.78 - 41.67 ug/m3
(mean 37.04). The highest TSP of the air sampled from the vicinity of the Mallam landfill
was recorded in April and the least in March. The assessments from the study showed
that leachates from both landfills are polluted and may be impacting on the surrounding
environment possibly especially on the soil and groundwater system.
ANNORBAH, R (2021). Environmental Impacts Of Active And Decommissioned Landfill Sites In The Accra Metropolis: A Case Study Of The Pantang And Mallam Landfill Sites. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/environmental-impacts-of-active-and-decommissioned-landfill-sites-in-the-accra-metropolis-a-case-study-of-the-pantang-and-mallam-landfill-sites
ANNORBAH, REBECCA "Environmental Impacts Of Active And Decommissioned Landfill Sites In The Accra Metropolis: A Case Study Of The Pantang And Mallam Landfill Sites" Afribary. Afribary, 18 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/environmental-impacts-of-active-and-decommissioned-landfill-sites-in-the-accra-metropolis-a-case-study-of-the-pantang-and-mallam-landfill-sites. Accessed 15 Aug. 2022.
ANNORBAH, REBECCA . "Environmental Impacts Of Active And Decommissioned Landfill Sites In The Accra Metropolis: A Case Study Of The Pantang And Mallam Landfill Sites". Afribary, Afribary, 18 Apr. 2021. Web. 15 Aug. 2022. < https://afribary.com/works/environmental-impacts-of-active-and-decommissioned-landfill-sites-in-the-accra-metropolis-a-case-study-of-the-pantang-and-mallam-landfill-sites >.
ANNORBAH, REBECCA . "Environmental Impacts Of Active And Decommissioned Landfill Sites In The Accra Metropolis: A Case Study Of The Pantang And Mallam Landfill Sites" Afribary (2021). Accessed August 15, 2022. https://afribary.com/works/environmental-impacts-of-active-and-decommissioned-landfill-sites-in-the-accra-metropolis-a-case-study-of-the-pantang-and-mallam-landfill-sites