Abstract
Landfill leachate is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic molecules, as well as environmental pollutants that can cause harm to ecosystems and living beings. The micronucleus test in peripheral blood erythrocytes was used to evaluate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of exposure to a landfill leachate from an outdoor solid waste storage system on Wistar strain rats at different developmental stages, pre-adolescents and young adults, and the heavy metal content of the leachate was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Contents of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead in the landfill leachate were outside the allowable international standards, and the exposure to the landfill leachate caused genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on Wistar rats, where the pre-adolescent animals were more susceptible to the toxics contained in the landfill leachate than young adults. Heavy metals contained in landfill leachate, individually or synergically with other molecules can be responsible for clastogenic and cytotoxic effects that can be harmful to humans and ecosystems.
Highlights
Urban solid waste storage systems (USWSSs), such as the open-air landfill, generate leachates that pollute the air, soil, and water, which threatens the health of ecosystems and living beings [1]
The mercury level found in the landfill leachate analyzed in this study was five times higher than those allowed by the Mexican standard and 50 times above international standards (Table 1)
This study provides important and useful information on adverse effects of exposure to landfill leachates on mammalian rodents at developmental stages of pre-adolescent and young adulthood, which has not had been studied previously
Summary
Urban solid waste storage systems (USWSSs), such as the open-air landfill, generate leachates that pollute the air, soil, and water, which threatens the health of ecosystems and living beings [1]. These landfill leachates are formed as a result of solutions percolating through trash and undergoing a biochemical transformation process. This mixture contains considerable concentrations of heavy metals and substances classified as pollutants of worldwide concern [2]. In this study, the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of exposure to a landfill leachate from an outdoor solid waste
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More From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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