Understanding the Interactions between Uncaptured Landfill Plume Contaminants, Soil, Groundwater Resources, Public Health Systems, and their Implications

Uncaptured landfill leachate plumes (ULLPs) remain one of the critical environmental challenges due to their infiltration into soil, polluting the groundwater resources with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in various scenarios and seasons. This study pioneers the application of ground magnetic survey (GMS), 3D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and hydrochemical water analysis (HWA) data to examine the intricate interactions between ULLPs and the environment, which inversely affect public health. The results indicate elevated levels of PTEs in the sampled groundwater varying between 0.029–1.811mg/l, heightening alarmingly high contaminants. The resistivity data indicate that the overburden topsoil layers vary in resistivity between 1.4–600 Ωm, with the affected zone having lower resistivity values of 1.4 – 10 Ωm, occurring with 0.0 – 5.7 m. The second subsurface layer exhibits 12 – 200 Ωm, heightening partially affected regions, while the basement rock displays >1000Ωm, remains unaffected, indicating potential barriers to leachate mobility. Magnetic data reveals critical insights into the landfill site’s condition with a total magnetic intensity (TMI) that varies significantly between 31100 – 37500 nT in unaffected zones, 31100 – 41500 nT within and off-landfill site, and 37500 – 39500 nT for mixed-materials zones within the landfill site. The TMI values between 39000 – 41500 nT in the affected zone occur within 0.0 – 5.0 m depths. The TMI values exceeding 41500 nT heighten the ferro-material dominant within the landfill, which further exacerbates the environmental risks associated with ULLPs. Findings indicate that the ULLP contaminants have impacted the integrity of groundwater with hazardous implications for public health. The combined ERT, GMS, and HWA provide an improved technique for detecting and mapping ULLP contaminants, capturing vital information needed for guiding safe waste disposal, groundwater conservation, and protection of public health.