The environmental issues around landfill sites are currently major concern to many environmental protection organizations as well as researchers. In which heavy metal contaminated in soil is one of the most serious problems because of its negative impact to quality of surrounding environment and human health. Dong Thanh landfill located in the north of Ho Chi Minh City has been operating for a long time and there have been environmental incidents (leaking leachate, broken sewage reservoir) during its operation. The purpose of this study is to determine the status of heavy metals in the soil, hotspots, and factors that affect the accumulation of heavy metals in the area around Dong Thanh landfill.The entire study area was conducted to take 68 soil samples forthree main heavy metals: Cu, Pb, Zn that randomly taken and analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry method (TCVN 8246:2009; EPA Method 7000B). Geostatistical method and GIS technique are used to produce the spatial distribution ofheavy metals.The results showed that the Cu concentration was from 2.16 - 96.5 mg/kg, Pb from 0.17 - 26.7 mg/kgand Zn from 0 - 285.5mg/kg. Compared to the allowed standard determined by national technical regulation, zinc concentration is close pollution and 2 elements Pb, Cu is below the allowed threshold. The areas that tend to accumulate high concentrationof heavy metal in soil is identified to be located in the Northwest-Southeast. This direction also reflects the elevation changes, run-off characteristics, and the land use/land cover.This study shows that during the operation of the landfill is the main cause that leads to the accumulation of heavy metal inthe soil in the areas surrounding Dong Thanh landfill. According toNational Technical Regulation on the allowable limits of heavy metals in soils QCVN 03-MT:2015/BTNMT, the results showed that Cu, Pb concentrations are still below the allowed threshold of pollution, however, Zn concentration has nearly reached the highestallowed threshold of pollution. Factors affecting to accumulate high concentrations are elevation, land use/land cover and run-off characteristics. This result is also a reference for managers and decision-makers to have better environmental protection policies of the landfill area.

Full text: IJEIR_2462_FINAL.pdf