Mercury Toxicity Level of Zayas Landfill

The study analyzed the percentage of mercury at Zayas Landfill, Cagayan de Oro City. Specifically, it determined (1) the percentage of mercury content in the landfill compared with the standard; (2) the significant difference of the content among the three sampling sites; and (3) the significant correlation between the mercury content and the distance of the sampling area. The researchers used experimental research design. Soil samples were taken from the different areas of the landfill. Based on the data obtained in the first sampling, it appeared that Site 1 which contains 0.164 ppm has the highest concentration of mercury among the three samples. The second and the third sites had <0.001ppm showing a minimum content of mercury.  As the sample gathering became deeper from 2nd sampling to 4th sampling, the mercury content were all detected at <0.001 ppm and the average shows that Site 1 has 0.042 ppm mercury content. The statistical tests show that there is no significant difference of the mercury content among the three sampling sites. This could have been due to the fact that most of the wastes dumped in the landfill are domestic and commercial wastes. An average standard mercury content of the landfill is being modified through the action of bacteria in the form of methyl mercury- a gaseous mercury, others went to the water during rainy seasons, and some got burned it by scavengers.

 

Keywords: Environmental toxiology, landfill, mercury content, experimental design, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines