Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation

Unauthorised landfills as a source of heavy metals: The influence of waste morphological composition

Serhii Leliushok, Olena Naumovska
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Abstract

Against the background of an increasing number of local uncontrolled landfills in Ukraine, the issue of their impact on the state of soils has become especially urgent, due to the high mobility of toxic elements and their long-term preservation in the environment. This study aimed to investigate the connection between the morphological composition of waste on unauthorised landfills and the degree of heavy metal content in soils of technogenically transformed territories. The standardised technique of sampling of municipal solid waste and soils was used, in accordance with national standards of Ukraine and international standards. Determination of the morphological composition of municipal solid waste was carried out by fractional sorting into the following morphological fractions: plastics, paper and cardboard, glass, metal, organic, textiles, building materials, and other mixed fractions. Soil sampling was carried out at a depth of 0-20 cm, where the maximum accumulation of anthropogenic metals takes place. Determination of the concentration of Cd2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ was carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry, which provided a high accuracy of quantitative analysis. Statistical processing of the results consisted of correlation analysis, determination of the coefficients of determination and creation of regression models to establish the relationship between the share of separate morphological fractions and the degree of soil pollution. Additionally, the environmental risk was estimated by calculating the accumulation index, the contamination factor and the modified potential ecological risk index. The obtained results testified to the statistically significant relationship between the increased concentrations of heavy metals in the soil cover and the presence in the waste stream of such morphological fractions, as metal scrap, fine-dispersed plastics, electronic and electrical waste, building materials with paints, varnishes and other mixtures based on polymers. The highest mobility to soils was shown by Pb2+ and Cd2+, which correlated with the morphological fractions that included used batteries, small metal items and electrical and electronic waste. The organic morphological fraction is not a direct source of heavy metals; however, it contributes to their mobilisation during the mineralisation process and formation of organic acids

Keywords

concentration factor; pollution index; mobile forms of elements; adsorption; leachates

Suggested citation
Leliushok, S., & Naumovska, O. (2026). Unauthorised landfills as a source of heavy metals: The influence of waste morphological composition. Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation, 17(2), 10-30. https://doi.org/10.31548/biologiya/2.2026.10
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