Dr Aftab Jan
Beneath the surface of our growing waste mountains lies a silent, toxic flood that few can see but millions are affected by—leachate. This black, contaminated liquid forms when rainwater and other fluids pass through layers of garbage, dissolving dangerous chemicals, heavy metals, disease-causing pathogens, and organic waste. Once formed, it seeps downward, spreading through soil, rivers, groundwater, and agricultural lands, often travelling 5–10 kilometers, and in some cases even up to 20–25 kilometers from the dumping site depending on rainfall and underground water flow. This poisonous liquid does not stay still; it infiltrates wells, irrigation systems, streams, and underground aquifers, contaminating water sources and soil that humans, animals, and plants rely on. In Kashmir, especially around unscientific dumping sites like Achan, this silent threat is real and growing every day. Without proper landfill liners and treatment systems, leachate spreads widely, turning fertile soil into toxic zones and clean water into a carrier of diseases.
The health impacts of leachate are vast and terrifying. It carries heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium, along with dangerous chemicals from plastics, batteries, electronics, cosmetics, medicines, and industrial waste. It also contains viruses, bacteria, and parasites from decomposing organic material. For humans, consuming or coming into contact with leachate-contaminated water can lead to both short-term and long-term diseases. Short-term effects include diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid, skin infections, eye irritations, stomach pain, vomiting, and repeated respiratory problems due to foul gases released by contaminated sites. Long-term exposure is far worse: lead can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in children, leading to reduced IQ, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems; cadmium affects kidneys and bones; mercury causes nervous disorders and harms fetal development during pregnancy; chromium and several chemicals are carcinogenic, increasing the risk of liver, lung, stomach, and bladder cancers. Persistent chemicals disrupt hormones, leading to infertility, miscarriages, birth defects, thyroid issues, and developmental delays. Many people in Kashmir living near dumping sites face chronic illnesses without realizing that contaminated water is slowly poisoning their bodies over years.
In Kashmir, leachate contamination has been linked to a rise in diseases in surrounding areas. People using groundwater near dumping sites often report frequent stomach infections, skin allergies, typhoid, jaundice (hepatitis A and E), and respiratory issues due to foul gases. Children are especially vulnerable; repeated exposure weakens their immunity and affects their growth. Pregnant women exposed to contaminated water face higher risks of low birth weight babies and birth defects. Over time, entire communities can experience a slow but steady decline in health. The Kashmir Valley’s shallow groundwater table makes the situation even more dangerous, as toxins travel quickly through the soil into drinking wells and irrigation channels, contaminating large areas of land and water far from the original dump.
The effects of leachate go beyond humans—animals are equally at risk. Cows, sheep, and other livestock often drink from contaminated ponds or streams near dumping sites. Over time, they ingest heavy metals and pathogens, leading to liver and kidney damage, reduced milk production, reproductive problems, frequent diseases, and early death. Birds feeding or nesting near dumping sites consume contaminated insects and water, leading to weakened immune systems, reduced fertility, eggshell deformities, and even mass deaths during breeding seasons. Dogs and other stray animals living around dumps face skin diseases, stomach disorders, and poisoning. These animals, in turn, become carriers of pathogens, spreading diseases like rabies and parasites to nearby communities. The interconnectedness of the ecosystem means that what starts in a dump does not stay there—it seeps into the entire food chain.
Leachate also infiltrates agricultural systems. When contaminated water is used for irrigation, toxic substances accumulate in the soil and are absorbed by crops. Vegetables and grains grown in such soils carry traces of heavy metals and harmful chemicals. These do not wash off easily; they remain inside the edible parts of the plant. When humans and animals consume these vegetables over time, the toxins accumulate in their bodies, leading to chronic illnesses. In many regions near dumping sites, farmers unknowingly irrigate their fields with leachate-contaminated water because it appears clear but contains invisible pollutants. Studies have shown vegetables grown in contaminated soil often have dangerous levels of lead, cadmium, and other metals that exceed safe consumption limits. This means even people living far from dumping sites may be eating contaminated food from markets, silently increasing their exposure every day.
The environmental impact is equally alarming. High concentrations of ammonia and organic matter in leachate deplete oxygen in water bodies, killing fish and aquatic life. Toxic substances kill soil microbes that maintain fertility, slowly turning rich farmland into barren land. Once groundwater is contaminated, cleaning it is almost impossible and extremely costly. Leachate plumes can persist for decades, moving underground without visible signs, poisoning wells and streams year after year. In Kashmir’s fragile ecosystem, where water bodies like the Jhelum River and Wular Lake are vital for agriculture, fishing, and daily living, unchecked leachate contamination can have devastating long-term consequences for the entire region.
In today’s world, the danger has increased because modern waste is no longer just biodegradable. Plastics, e-waste, chemicals, cosmetics, pesticides, sanitary products, and batteries are dumped daily. These release complex, persistent toxins that do not degrade easily, turning leachate into a chemical soup far more harmful than traditional waste. With increasing rainfall patterns and climate change, the production and spread of leachate are accelerating. Without scientific waste management, the poison spreads every season, affecting more land, water, and lives.
From an Islamic perspective, allowing such contamination is not just negligence; it is a moral violation. The Qur’an commands: “Do not spread corruption on the earth after it has been set in order” (Surah Al-A‘raf 7:56). Polluting water, soil, and air with leachate is a form of corruption that harms humans, animals, and the environment. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that removing harm from the pathway is an act of charity. If removing a thorn from a road is charity, then preventing poisonous waste from seeping into water is a far greater responsibility. Protecting natural resources is part of our faith and duty as stewards of the earth.
To address this growing crisis, urgent and practical steps are needed. Landfills must be engineered with impermeable liners, proper leachate collection pipes, and treatment facilities to stop underground contamination. Open dumping must end, and waste should be segregated at the source—biodegradable waste composted, plastics recycled, hazardous materials treated separately. Monitoring wells should be installed around landfills to check groundwater quality regularly. Farmers must be made aware of the risks of using contaminated water for irrigation. People living near dumping sites should be provided with safe drinking water and medical support. Government bodies must strictly enforce environmental laws, and dumping near water bodies or agricultural land must be prohibited. Public awareness campaigns are essential to make people understand that the garbage they throw away today can return to them tomorrow through the water they drink and the food they eat.
Leachate is not just filthy water leaking from garbage; it is a toxic, mobile, long-lasting poison that spreads through kilometers of soil and water, affecting humans, animals, birds, crops, and ecosystems. It causes diseases in communities, weakens livestock, kills biodiversity, contaminates vegetables, and damages entire regions silently. In places like Kashmir, where water resources are precious and ecosystems are delicate, this silent spread is a ticking time bomb that demands immediate scientific and moral action. Every drop of leachate that escapes untreated is a future drop of poison in someone’s life. Addressing this menace with urgency, awareness, and responsibility is not just an environmental task—it is a duty to protect life itself.
The author can be reached at jaanaftaab5@gmail.com
