Eli5 Why exactly are landfills/ dumping grounds considered bad for health?

Question

I understand that they smell bad but what are some issues one might face working near a landfill (500meters)

Does it really impact health if someone has to spend 30hrs a week near a landfill?

Thanks in advance.

In: 7

Answer 1

People throw away all sorts of stuff, and some of that stuff may contain toxins that leech into the ground. Or birds sifting through the trash carry some of it outside the perimeter of the landfill. In either case, it’s possible for the nearby environment to be impacted, especially if the landfill doesn’t take proper measures to secure the site to mitigate leakage.