Health risk tendencies of some municipal solid waste dumps in Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria

Solid dumpsites within Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria were randomly selected. The constituents of the dumps were studied, identified and classified into harmful and nonharmful ones. The bacterial flora was also studied to determine the potential of the dumps to health hazards. The result indicated that plants wastes were generated more, having the highest quantity (14.42%) of the total components collected. Food residue amounted to about 13.10%, while glasses, newspapers and woods had < 9%. Human faecal constituents had the least percentage of 4.90%. The biodegradable bulk occupied an average 68.29% while the nonbiodegradable constituents were about 31.71%. Organisms isolated per cross zone tabulation indicated that Zone B had the highest number of organisms (160/ml) and the least (50/ml) was found in Zone A. Prevalence revealed that E. coli was the highest followed by Streptococcus faecalis (30.43%), Klebsiella sp. (16.98%) Staphylococcus aureus (16%) and Salmonella sp. constituted the least (13.04%). The dumps are mostly domestic dumps and the bacteria isolated were found to be pathogenic but their presence and possibility to accumulate pose as a serious threat to the populace. These dumpsites also serve as breeding grounds for the vectors/carriers of the other non-bacterial pathogens; these collectively pose a great threat to the inhabitants of the study area. A survey from the hospitals around zones sampled also revealed the prevalence of malaria, typhoid, dysentery, tetanus, diarrhoea, bronchitis, ascariasis, asthma, eye infections, filariasis, cholera and pneumonia. This suggested that the dumps could probably be the sources of pathogens that are responsible for these infections.