Title: Residents' perceptions of the environmental risks of Al Qusais landfill, the United Arab Emirates

Authors: Hana Alrahmani; Nicole R. Sierer; Abdullah A. Alkaabi; Mohammed A. Al Taher; Paria I. Karimi; Chike Chiedo; Sahar T. Issa; Aseel A. Takshe

Addresses: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Communications, Arts and Sciences, Canadian University Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Department of Public Health, Faculty of Communications, Arts and Sciences, Canadian University Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Department of Public Health, Faculty of Communications, Arts and Sciences, Canadian University Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Department of Public Health, Faculty of Communications, Arts and Sciences, Canadian University Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Department of Public Health, Faculty of Communications, Arts and Sciences, Canadian University Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Department of Public Health, Faculty of Communications, Arts and Sciences, Canadian University Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Department of Public Health, Faculty of Communications, Arts and Sciences, Canadian University Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Department of Public Health, Faculty of Communications, Arts and Sciences, Canadian University Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Abstract: Living near landfills has been often associated with environmental risks. The aim of this study is to explore the residents' perceptions of the environmental risks associated with the Al Qusais Landfill in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Twenty-four residents living close (0 m to 1 Km), fairly close (1 to 2 Km), and far (more than 2 Km) from the landfill were interviewed and asked about their perceptions of the environmental risks associated with the landfill. The findings showed that the most common environmental risk perceived by the participants is the unpleasant odour. Other issues included dust, social quality, visual pollution, noise, and traffic. Future studies could take into consideration larger home-landfill distances and quantitatively assess the environmental and health risks of landfills.

Keywords: landfill; environmental risks; public perception; waste disposal; waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2025.146561

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2025 Vol.37 No.2, pp.161 - 171

Received: 06 Jul 2022
Accepted: 18 Jun 2023
Published online: 04 Jun 2025 *

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