The leachability of elements in solid wastes

Landfills and waste disposal sites are now routinely used for disposal of solid wastes and their incinerator ashes. Trace elements from these ashes are leached by rain and acid rain into nearby waterways providing a pathway for toxic elements to re-enter the food chain and the human life cycle. This paper examines the mechanism and the extent of leaching of 20 elements viz. Ag, Al, As, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, La, Sb, Sc, Ce, Sm, Ta, V, W and Zn. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used for the assay. The solid wastes studied are municipal refuse incinerator ash, coal fly ash, hospital incinerator ash, raw sewage sludge and its incinerator ash.