Environmental Health Assessment of Informal Refuse Dumps in Warri, Delta State, South South Nigeria

Informal refuse dumps proliferate in Nigerian cities in the absence of adequate formal waste management infrastructure, creating localized environmental health hazards. This study conducted an environmental health assessment of seven identified informal refuse dump sites in Warri, Delta State, South South Nigeria. Site assessments included measurement of ambient odor intensity, mosquito larval surveys, assessment of rodent activity indicators, and collection of leachate and soil samples for heavy metal analysis. Household surveys were administered to 240 residents within 200 metres of each dump site, and disease pattern data were extracted from three nearby community health facilities. Results showed that all seven dump sites exhibited active mosquito larval breeding, predominantly Culex species. Lead, cadmium, and zinc concentrations in soil samples adjacent to dumps exceeded reference limits, with the most contaminated site recording lead levels of 1,100 mg/kg. Leachate from three sites showed evidence of migration toward adjacent drainage channels. Health facility records indicated elevated incidence of malaria, diarrhea, and skin infections in communities immediately surrounding dump locations. Sixty-eight percent of residents reported frequent harassment from rodents. The study concludes that informal dump sites in Warri pose multifaceted environmental health risks to surrounding communities. Recommendations include expedited site remediation, enforcement of designated waste collection points, and provision of adequate waste collection frequency in affected communities. Keywords: refuse dump, environmental assessment, Warri, leachate, community health.