Industrial and Technological Waste Mismanagement and Its Implications for the Present and Future Geology of the Earth: A Field Study of the Ekulu River in Enugu Metropolis, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: Field study of the Ekulu River in the coal mining and industrialized part of the Enugu Metropolis was done in order to evaluate the impacts of industrial and technological waste mismanagement on the present and future geology of the Earth. Methodology:  The study includes field observation, sampling and description of nature and composition of the sediments from the ancient/abandoned and present/active river channels. Result: The findings of the study shows incorporation of non- decomposable particles such as nylon, plastics, leather, chicken feather, pieces of broken bottles, electrical wire, coal chips, aluminum foil, cloth materials, metallic containers, coal tar and chippings scraped off from failed road etc as part of the present river channel sediments in an active areas such as Onyeama Mine and surroundings and Abakpa Bridge. Conclusion: Occurrence of these debris referred to as “Technofossils” in the sediments and sedimentary rocks that is or will be preserved in these fluvial settings now and in the near future will serve as one of the evidences of human impacts on the Earth System through the use of technological inventions and industrial revolution. These anthropogenic materials in the present river channel sediments are markers which support the argument on a clear shift in geologic time from Holocene to Anthropocene, a proposed human influenced geologic epoch.