International Journal of Advanced Engineering and Technology

Authors
Eduardo Antonio Maia Lins, Adriana da Silva Baltar Maia Lins

Abstract
The decomposition processes of organic matter in landfills of urban solid waste result in the generation of gases and toxic leachate which, if not effectively managed, can result in serious impacts on the environment and public health. The main gases generated during this process are methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), the first being 21 times more polluting for trapping heat in the atmosphere. In addition, hydrogen sulfide has an unpleasant smell and irritating effect on the eyes, which can cause headache and nausea. On the other hand, leachate has a COD about 200 times greater than domestic sewage, a large number of contaminating organic xenobiotics (XOCs), which are identified as carcinogens, in addition to heavy metals that can be found in large quantities in the acidogenic phase of the landfill. The objective of this work was to analyze, in a succinct way, the impacts caused by the effluents generated in landfills of urban solid waste to human health, based on analyzes carried out at the Aterro da Muribeca, located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The methodology basically consisted of performing periodic measurements of gas concentration at the outlet of the gas tubes and leachate that the leachate treatment station provided. It was observed that, under the cover layer, there is a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide, meaning that this being in the open could cause a great impact on human health, as well as leachate with high organic loads capable of bioaccumulating in living organisms.