Izzotti A, Pulliero A, Khalid Z, Ferrante O, Aquilia E, Sciacca S, Oliveri Conti G, Ferrante M
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Mar 31;22(4):528. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22040528.
The application of natural radioisotope and stable isotope tracing represents a novel, sensitive method for confirming the presence of environmental contamination due to leachate water from solid waste landfills. This study aimed to employ this approach to assess the efficiency of containment measures and the potential environmental impact in the vicinity of a landfill designated for non-hazardous waste disposal. We collected leachate water samples from two distinct areas: one currently active, and another exhausted. In February, May, August, and November 2022, we collected deep water samples from a nearby stream utilizing piezometers, both upstream and downstream from the facility. We examined deuterium and tritium radioisotopes via liquid scintillation, and stable isotope oxygen-18 via ratio mass spectrometry. The results revealed the presence of anthropogenic radioisotopes within the landfill, with higher concentrations in the active site. No radioisotopes or stable isotopes above the natural background were identified in any of the samples obtained from outside. The levels of tritium were found to correlate with rainfall in the samples collected inside, but not in those obtained outside. These findings provide evidence of the effectiveness of the active structural, managerial, and procedural containment measures and the absence of environmental contamination stemming from the studied site, reinforcing the value of the responsible management of non-hazardous waste and its limited impact on the surrounding environment. The reported results highlight the utility of performing radioisotope and stable isotope monitoring not only inside but also outside the landfill, and analyzing the relation via pluviometry.
天然放射性同位素和稳定同位素示踪技术的应用，为确认固体废物填埋场渗滤液造成的环境污染提供了一种新颖、灵敏的方法。本研究旨在运用该方法评估某非危险废物处置填埋场周边的控制措施效率及潜在环境影响。我们从两个不同区域采集了渗滤液样本：一个是当前仍在使用的区域，另一个是已停用的区域。在2022年2月、5月、8月和11月，我们利用测压管从该设施上游和下游的附近溪流中采集了深层水样。我们通过液体闪烁法检测了氘和氚放射性同位素，并通过比值质谱法检测了稳定同位素氧-18。结果显示，填埋场内存在人为放射性同位素，活跃区域的浓度更高。从场外采集的任何样本中均未检测到高于自然本底的放射性同位素或稳定同位素。发现场内采集样本中的氚水平与降雨量相关，而场外采集样本则不然。这些发现证明了现行结构、管理和程序控制措施的有效性，以及研究场地未造成环境污染，强化了非危险废物妥善管理的价值及其对周边环境的有限影响。报告结果凸显了不仅在填埋场内而且在填埋场外进行放射性同位素和稳定同位素监测，并通过雨量测量分析两者关系的实用性。
