Solid waste: sanitary landfill and leachate: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Solid waste: sanitary landfill and leachate

Sample item

Near an open municipal dump, residents of a village complain that the water from a hand-pump well is dark, foul-smelling and has high ammonia and chloride levels. What is the likely mechanism and the best long-term disposal method?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Leachate percolation; engineered sanitary landfill with liner and leachate collection

Rain percolating through uncontrolled refuse produces leachate rich in organic matter, ammonia and chloride that contaminates groundwater. A sanitary landfill uses compaction, daily soil cover, an impermeable liner and leachate and gas collection to prevent this. Open burning and open dumping are unacceptable.

Option by option

  • A. Fly ash fallout; composting alone

    Fly ash comes from incinerators and not from dumps, and composting does not take inert residues.

  • B. Leachate percolation; engineered sanitary landfill with liner and leachate collection (correct)

    Correct. Leachate causes the groundwater changes, and a lined sanitary landfill controls it.

  • C. Methane migration into the well; open burning of the dump

    Methane does not cause this water chemistry, and open burning produces air pollution.

  • D. Windborne dust; incineration of all waste

    Dust does not change the chemistry of well water, and incineration cannot be used for all waste.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Leachate percolation; engineered sanitary landfill with liner and leachate collection. Rain percolating through uncontrolled refuse produces leachate rich in organic matter, ammonia and chloride that contaminates groundwater.

Why is "Fly ash fallout; composting alone" not the answer?

Fly ash comes from incinerators and not from dumps, and composting does not take inert residues.

Why is "Methane migration into the well; open burning of the dump" not the answer?

Methane does not cause this water chemistry, and open burning produces air pollution.

Why is "Windborne dust; incineration of all waste" not the answer?

Dust does not change the chemistry of well water, and incineration cannot be used for all waste.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Solid waste: sanitary landfill and leachate in PSM. A sanitary landfill uses compaction, daily soil cover, an impermeable liner and leachate and gas collection to prevent this. Open burning and open dumping are unacceptable.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Solid waste: sanitary landfill and leachate?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.