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Abstract:
Uncontrolled waste discharges increase significantly in the districts of Abomey and Godomey of Benin. Wastewater and rainwater leach these garbage discharges and produce leachate seeping into the soil and contaminate groundwater. To assess the pollution of groundwater from garbage discharges in these districts, the physico-chemical analysis were carried out on 21 samples of water taken from wells near to garbage discharges and 21 sample from wells in a control area located very far from the garbage discharges (about 7 km from the garbage discharges). The survey on the health risks was carried out on 280 households and in 10 hospitals. The data obtained were analyzed using SAS software (2006). The physico-chemical results show that the waters sampled from wells were characterized by an acidic pH with average values varying between 4.42 and 6.3; high mineralization with an electrical conductivity that ranges between 212.13 and 400.06 uS/cm, high oxygenation (6.14 to 15.24 mg / l for COD, 4.67 and 7 mg / l for BOD5, 0.19 - 0.44 mg / l for TKN, 2.33 and 6.10 ug/l for copper, 0.37 - 0.86 ug/l for nickel and 0.05 to 2.6 ug/l for lead). Comparatively to the standards stewarding the quality of drinking water in Benin, the current results indicate pollution of water by organic matter. It is clear from the statistical analysis that pollution is favored by the influence of garbage discharges on these waters. The epidemiology survey showed that household's inhabitants located next to the dumpsite are most affected by the waste-related diseases, the most frequent were: malaria, lung affections, headache and gastroenteritis. Therefore, the problem of uncontrolled garbage discharges in the districts of Abomey and Godomey is an obvious emergency and requires efficient corrective measures.
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