**6. Environmental effect of poor disposal of industrial waste**

Improper or poor waste disposal is injurious to man and the environment. Indiscriminate disposal allows for uncontrolled and unhygienic decomposition of organic, toxic, and hazardous waste materials [32]. When wastes decompose uncontrollably outside an engineering landfill facility, air pollution, microorganisms and pests infestation, and bad esthetics are the result [36]. Industrial solid wastes contain *Perspective Chapter: Industrial Waste Landfills DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108787*

toxic and hazardous chemicals whose concentrations usually exceed permissible levels [9] and when released into the environment, these chemicals may result in physical, biological, and chemical disruptions of the ecosystem and soil fertility [36]. Plastic wastes, for instance, have been linked to endocrine disruptions in humans and animals due to the slow release of bisphenol A at disposal [37]. Toxic chemicals and other harmful substances in leachate from dumpsites or poorly managed landfills may seep into the soil and pollute groundwater [3]. Also, some industrial hazardous and radioactive wastes mixed with municipal solid wastes (cardboard and scraps) at dumpsites produce noxious gases and dioxins when burned [36]. These gases are carcinogenic and have the potential to cause disease and eventually, death from exposure [36].

Effects of improper disposal of industrial wastes on humans and animals cannot be felt without a pathway (route) for contact or exposure. Some of the exposure routes include: (i) exposure by skin contact, which is the direct contact of humans with dioxins that can bring about irritation [9]. Pollutants like corrosive acids can destroy the skin by a single, one-time exposure, while others such as organic solvents may cause damage by repeated exposure [9]; (ii) exposure by inhalation is the easiest source of occupational workplace contact with pollutants and the most difficult to control [9]. Air pollutants can affect the respiratory tract, causing damage to the lungs, bronchi/bronchioles, larynx, and trachea [9]; (iii) exposure by ingestion may cause damage resulting from absorbing or swallowing food and water contaminated by pollutants [9]. Typical effects of poor industrial waste disposal are described in the following section.

#### **6.1 Effect on the environment**

Poor landfill management and open dumpsites allow emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon (IV) oxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) released by decomposing wastes from beverage, petroleum, tobacco, food, or brewery industries; these gases contribute to global warming and cause climate change [38]. Also, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) released from tannery, beverage, food, and tobacco wastes can cause environmental air pollution [38]. The complex nature of leachate that contains dissolved organic and inorganic toxic substances can cause eutrophication of surface water reducing water quality and amount of dissolved oxygen, which may result in death of aquatic life; leachates can also contaminate groundwater causing shortage of drinkable/usable water or disease and death [3].

#### **6.2 Effect on human health**

When landfills and open dumpsites are located near residential settlements due to improper site selection, residents within the vicinity of these sites experience health challenges than people living far away. A landfill that has not been carefully designed and constructed with necessary engineering techniques will contaminate the immediate surrounding due to the release of toxins and bioaerosols [39]. This contamination will lead to health complications such as diarrhea, stomach pain, cholera, flu, asthma, malaria, skin irritation, cough, and tuberculosis [39].

#### **6.3 Effect on wild life**

Animals are exposed to toxins from decomposing waste materials disposed at poorly managed landfills or open dumpsites through inhalation and ingestion. These exposure

pathways can easily lead to both bioaccumulation and biomagnification of these pollutants in the respiratory track or guts of these animals, which at sublethal concentrations may cause neurological dysfunction, hemorrhaging, and infertility [38]. Lethal concentrations of toxic pollutants in animals may lead to instant death [38].
