GIS-based approach for optimized siting of municipal solid waste landfill

The exponential rise in the urban population of the developing countries in the past few decades and the resulting accelerated urbanization phenomenon has brought to the fore the necessity to develop environmentally sustainable and efficient waste management systems. Sanitary landfill constitutes one of the primary methods of municipal solid waste disposal. Optimized siting decisions have gained considerable importance in order to ensure minimum damage to the various environmental sub-components as well as reduce the stigma associated with the residents living in its vicinity, thereby enhancing the overall sustainability associated with the life cycle of a landfill. This paper addresses the siting of a new landfill using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and overlay analysis using a geographic information system (GIS). The proposed system can accommodate new information on the landfill site selection by updating its knowledge base. Several factors are considered in the siting process including geology, water supply resources, land use, sensitive sites, air quality and groundwater quality. Weightings were assigned to each criterion depending upon their relative importance and ratings in accordance with the relative magnitude of impact. The results from testing the system using different sites show the effectiveness of the system in the selection process.     

Hydrogeochemical behavior of arsenic-enriched groundwater in the deltaic environment: comparison between two study sites in West Bengal, India

Groundwaters have been collected from deltaic areas of West Bengal (Chakdaha and Baruipur blocks) to record their hydrogeochemical characteristics, and to verify the mechanism of arsenic (As) release. The data reveals that shallow (<70 m) groundwaters in both areas are of Ca-Mg-HCO(3) type; however deeper (>70 m) groundwaters in Baruipur areas are slightly enriched with Na, Cl and SO(4), indicating possible saline water intrusion. The groundwater is anoxic (mean Eh: -124 and -131 mV) with high levels of As (mean: 116 and 293 mug/L), Fe (mean: 4.74 and 3.83 mg/L), PO(4) (mean: 3.73 and 3.21 mg/L) and Mn (mean: 0.37 and 0.49 mg/L), respectively for Chakdaha and Baruipur areas. The observed values of As and bicarbonate (mean: 409 and 499 mg/L) in the shallow aquifer are indicative of redox processes (e.g., oxidation of organic matter) favouring the release of As. Moreover, the presence of DOC in the shallow aquifer suggests that organic matter is young and reactive, and may actively engage in redox driven processes. Our study further confirms that both Fe- and Mn-reduction processes are the dominant mechanisms for As release in these groundwaters.     

Water toxicants: a comprehension on their health concerns,detection, and remediation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Water is an essential moiety for the human use since a long time. Availability of good-quality water is very essential, as it is used in almost all...     

Assessing poverty and livelihood vulnerability of the fishing communities in the context of pollution of the Churni River,India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study exhibits a critical outlook on the poverty and livelihood vulnerability of the fisherman community in the context of persistent...     

Pollution assessment and mapping of potentially toxic elements (PTE) distribution in urban wastewater fed natural wetland,Kolkata, India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - East Kolkata Wetland (EKW) is one of the largest sewage-fed wetlands in the world, which support the livelihood of thousands of peoples. However, at...     

Comparing the environmental impacts of paracetamol dosage forms using life cycle assessment

Environment, Development and Sustainability - A medicine can be administered in varied dosage forms which are having different environmental impacts. Two dosage forms of paracetamol (tablet and...