Levels of Heavy Metals in the Soil of Illegal Open Dumpsites in Malaysia

This study aims to understand the soil impacts of illegal dumpsites in Malaysia through quantifying heavy metals two dumpsites, one receiving construction waste and other municipal solid waste. Five samples were collected from each dumpsite, sampling was repeated second week examine temporal changes levels metals. All conducted triplicates. The sieved, dried, digested with aqua regia at 70 °C, after which mixtures filtered. filtrates diluted tested an atomic absorption spectrophotometer for metal concentration ranges as follows: Al (24.67-142.20 mg/kg), Cd (< 0.01-0.083 Cu (0.10-14.99 Fe (11.20-241.77 Mn (0.09-22.60 Ni (0.02- 0.77 Zn (0.14-35.03 mg/kg). have been detected all points except that some below detection limit. varied spatially temporally, though higher Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, consistently dumpsite could be linked electrical electronic dumpsite. did not constitute contamination. However, it is important control dumping activities reduce associated health safety concerns, such infestation vermin, fire, physical hazards, odor.