Global Warming Potentials of Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsites in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State

Abstract

Total anthropogenic greenhouse gases have continued to increase with municipal solid waste dumpsites contributing immensely to the high concentrations of greenhouse gases with high warming potentials. This study is aimed at determining the global warming potentials of municipal solid waste dumpsite in Calabar metropolis. Soil, leachate and solid wastes samples were collected from the dumpsite and subjected to standard microbiological analysis. The samples were examined for temperature, pH, mean heterotrophic bacterial/ fungal counts and greenhouse gases emissions from the dumpsite using Combustible Gas Leak Detector. The mean temperature values for both soil and leachate samples ranged from 82°F-83°F while the mean pH values ranged from 6.57-7.0. The proportion of Carbondioxide, Methane and Nitrous oxide in the studied dumpsite has significantly increased to 39%, 161% and 19% respectively. The mean total viable aerobic heterotrophic bacterial count in both leachate and soil samples ranged from 1.7 x 103 - 8.0 x 103 cfu/ml and 1.2 x 104  - 8.0 x 104 cfu/g, while the mean  total viable fungal counts for both leachate and soil samples ranged from 1.0 x 105 – 5.0 x 105 cfu/ml and 2.1 x 103 – 6.0 x 103 cfu/g. The prevalent bacteria isolate from the dumpsite soil, leachate and decomposing solid waste include: Escherichia coli, Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter sp, Klebsiella sp, Proteus sp, Salmonella sp, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, and Methanococcus sp. The fungi isolated include: Candida tropicalis, Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp, Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans, and Saccharomyces sp. Statistical analysis of the bacterial and fungal counts showed significant difference (p<0.05) between the various sampling points. This study reveals the health, environmental, and climate hazard that could result from indiscriminate dumping of untreated wastes.