Environmental Impact Assessment of Tobacco Waste Disposal

A study was carried out in a strip of a river and in a nearby well in the rainy and dry seasons to assess the impact of tobacco waste disposal on the roadsides. There were significant seasonal variations in the concentration of nicotine being higher (p<0.05) in the dry season than in the wet season. Regardless of season however, nicotine was observed in highest amounts close to the dumpsite and none or just trace amounts were obtained upstream and in the well water. There were seasonal differences in the concentration of phosphate, sulphate and turbidity, being higher (p<0.05) in the dry season than in the rainy season. However, the concentration of sulphate followed an opposite seasonal trend to that of phosphate, being higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. In the rainy season, the concentrations varied significantly (p<0.05) across the sample points, being highest at point close to the dumpsite followed by the value upstream and the least was obtained downstream. The authorities must enforce the legislation of controlled tobacco waste disposal to avoid harmful environment effects.