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Environmental Contamination and Public Health Impacts Associated with Municipal Solid Waste Management: Evidence from Soil, Water, Air, Biomonitoring, and Epidemiological Studies
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This review summarizes existing research on trash and waste management, finding that disposal sites release pollutants including microplastics, heavy metals and chemicals into air, soil and water. Studies linked these contaminants to respiratory and digestive illnesses, especially among waste workers and nearby residents, though standardized testing methods remain limited.
Municipal solid waste (MSW) generation has increased rapidly due to urbanization, population growth, and changing consumption patterns, creating significant environmental and public health challenges. This review synthesizes current evidence on environmental contamination associated with MSW management and its implications for human health by evaluating recent studies on pollution sources, biomonitoring, and health outcomes. MSW disposal and management activities release particulate matter, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), microplastics, pathogens, and landfill leachate, contributing to the contamination of air, soil, and water. Exposure to these contaminants has been associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal and infectious diseases, particularly among waste workers and residents living near waste disposal landfills. Human biomonitoring using blood, urine, hair, and nails provides valuable evidence of internal exposure; however, standardized protocols and longitudinal studies remain limited. Sustainable waste management strategies can reduce environmental pollution and health risks, including source segregation, recycling, resource recovery, engineered sanitary landfills, and advanced leachate treatment. Integrating environmental monitoring, biomonitoring, epidemiological research, and One Health approaches is essential for developing evidence-based policies and promoting sustainable MSW management.
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