Application of optical microscopy to assessment of solid waste contamination of soils

Solid waste contamination in soils is an extremely important and relevant problem for recreational areas and sports centers. Solid wastes, such as glass, plastics, and metals, do not degrade quickly and accumulate in the soil at shallow depths or remain on the surface. This is a particularly dangerous situation for recreational area users and may lead to cuts, which can cause severe infections. In the analyzed case, pollutants were present at the junction of a beach and a nearby area that was covered with a small amount of grassy vegetation, which further limited the visibility of solid wastes. A microscopic analysis method was used to assess the presence of hazardous waste in the soil qualitatively and quantitatively. Petrographic analysis revealed the presence of glass and metals in the examined material, as well as other solid components. In addition, areas where the concentration of these hazardous pollutants had increased and those where they had not were identified.