Assessment of Toxic Metals in an Open Dump Site Near PNG University of Technology, Papua New Guinea
2024
John Ape, Srikanth Bathula, Sailesh Samanta and Krishna Kumar Kotra
Groundwater contamination near the municipal solid waste dump at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) has raised serious health concerns in the local communities. To testify to this, a research study was conducted to quantify the presence of heavy metals. Water sample analyses showed Cd levels ranging from 0.0002 to 0.02 mg.L-1, Pb from 0.00002 to 0.094 mg.L-1, and Hg from 0.0001 to 0.052 mg.L-1, all of which exceed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe drinking water limits. These metals are known to cause a range of health problems, including kidney disease, cancer, brain damage, and developmental delays in children. The situation calls for urgent action to safeguard the local community’s health. Immediate improvements in waste management, such as better landfill designs with systems to capture and treat leachate, are needed to prevent further contamination of groundwater. Additionally, water treatment technologies like reverse osmosis should be considered to provide safe drinking water. Regular monitoring of groundwater quality and public health education in the area are also key steps in minimizing risks. These combined efforts will help ensure safer water for the community and more responsible management of the waste disposal site.
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