article · Results in Engineering
An assessment of electronic waste disposal at the Illovo landfill in Durban, South Africa, examined heavy metal contamination across soil, sediment, leachate, and water from the Lovu River. Testing focused on eight metals commonly found in electronic waste, including cadmium, chromium, lead, and selenium. The analysis revealed that landfill soils retained high levels of toxic metals, frequently exceeding global benchmarks as well as concentrations measured in the surrounding water and leachate. Cadmium levels along the site boundary and selenium concentrations throughout the landfill soils were notably higher than figures documented globally. While surface water primarily acted as a transport pathway where pollutants were diluted, the severe buildup of metals in the soil and sediments demonstrates significant risks of environmental leaching and downstream contamination.
Improper disposal of discarded electronics introduces toxic heavy metals into the surrounding environment. Because soils absorb and hold these contaminants at dangerous levels, they pose long-term risks of leaching into nearby rivers and waterways. Understanding how these metals accumulate helps environmental authorities and waste managers design better containment strategies to protect water security and public health from electronic waste pollution.
This work represents observational environmental assessment research rather than a developed technology, meaning it is at an early stage regarding direct commercialisation. However, the data can inform municipal waste operators, environmental regulators, and remediation companies seeking to design targeted soil containment, leachate treatment systems, or improved electronic waste management protocols to prevent surface water contamination.
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• Heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn) exhibited higher concentrations in soils than water, indicating strong adsorption. • Water samples showed significant dilution of contaminants compared to leachate and soil. • The study highlights the urgent need for enhanced e-waste management to mitigate heavy metal pollution. • Significant retention of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn) in landfill soils, exceeding global benchmark concentrations. • Selenium (Se) concentrations in landfill soils surpassed levels reported in global studies, underscoring its environmental risk. This study examines heavy metal contamination resulting from e-waste disposal in the Illovo DSW landfill, Durban, South Africa, and its potential impact on the Lovu River. A total of 23 samples, collected in triplicate, included 6 water samples, 10 soil samples, 6 sediment samples, and 1 leachate sample collected in October 2023 and February 2024. Eight heavy metals commonly associated with e-waste—arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn)—were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results revealed significantly higher heavy metal concentrations in soils compared to water, with Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn levels often exceeding those in the leachate. This highlights the role of soil as a reservoir for heavy metals, while water primarily acts as a transport medium where dilution occurs. The most notable contaminants were Cd, Cr, and Pb, with Cd levels at the west landfill boundary (0.1202 mg/L) surpassing concentrations reported in other global studies. The findings underscore the environmental risks posed by landfill leachate, including bioaccumulation in sediments and potential pollution of surface waters. This study emphasizes the urgent need for improved e-waste management practices and stricter landfill regulations to mitigate heavy metal leaching. By exploring the dynamics of heavy metal contamination in a subtropical environment, the research provides valuable insights for enhancing landfill and waste management systems worldwide.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104431
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