Genotoxic and mutagenic assessment of municipal solid waste landfill leachate in the Brazilian semiarid region

Ketlyn Jaquelize Lima Sousa; Gabriel Araújo Paes Freire; Wlysses Wagner Medeiros Lins Costa; Luisa Thaynara Muricy de Souza Silva; Libânia da Silva Ribeiro; Veruschka Escarião Dessoles Monteiro; Marcio Camargo de Melo

doi:10.5327/Z2176-94782757

Authors

Ketlyn Jaquelize Lima Sousa Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8985-3379
Gabriel Araújo Paes Freire Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4678-9126
Wlysses Wagner Medeiros Lins Costa Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8182-0200
Luisa Thaynara Muricy de Souza Silva Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5266-494X
Libânia da Silva Ribeiro Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0236-6386
Veruschka Escarião Dessoles Monteiro Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7714-5692
Marcio Camargo de Melo Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) - Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6215-8100

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/Z2176-94782757

Keywords:

effluent; phytotoxicity; genotoxicity; mutagenicity.

Abstract

The monitoring of landfill leachate in the Brazilian semiarid region has traditionally been based on physicochemical parameters which, although essential, were insufficient to determine effluent toxicity and to predict complex biological risks. The objective of this study was to evaluate leachate toxicity through bioassays using Allium cepa (A. cepa). The methodology comprised physicochemical characterization (organic and inorganic parameters and metals) and toxicity bioassays with A. cepa using an in natura leachate sample. The phytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity of the effluent were assessed at different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 15, and 100%), employing control samples (positive and negative) for comparison. The results revealed an alkaline effluent with high organic loads and the presence of metals such as chromium. Biologically, the 1% concentration induced a stimulatory effect on root growth, whereas concentrations above 15% were highly phytotoxic. However, the key contribution lies in the finding that genotoxicity was observed at all concentrations, including those without apparent phytotoxic effects, and mutagenicity was detected from 10% onward. These findings establish a new analytical perspective by demonstrating that the absence of acute phytotoxicity does not ensure cellular integrity, revealing a disconnect between positive root growth and the occurrence of underlying genetic damage induced by the leachate. The climatic dynamics of the semiarid region exacerbate leachate toxicity, highlighting that the inclusion of genetic indicators in regulatory frameworks to address gaps that isolated physicochemical analyses cannot predict is urgent.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdel-Shafy, H.I.; Ibrahim, A.M.; Al-Sulaiman, A.M.; Okasha, R.A., 2024. Landfill leachate: Sources, nature, organic composition, and treatment: An environmental overview. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, v. 15, (1), 102293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2023.102293.

Abunama, T.; Othman, F.; Younes, M.K., 2018. Predicting sanitary landfill leachate generation in humid regions using ANFIS modeling. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, v. 190, 597. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6966-y.

Ahmad, W.; Alharthy, R.D.; Zubair, M.; Ahmed, M.; Hameed, A. et al., 2021. Toxic and heavy metals contamination assessment in soil and water to evaluate human health risk. Scientific Reports, v. 11, (1), 17006. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94616-4.

Ahmed, M.; Sanaullah, M.; Sarfraz, S.; Zahra, M.; Tanveer, M.; et al., 2024. Essential and non-essential metals in coconut milk: Determination, chemometric analysis, and risk assessment study. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, v. 127, 105943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105943.

Alemayehu, T.; Mebrahtu, G.; Hadera, A.; Bekele, D., 2019. Assessment of the impact of landfill leachate on groundwater and surrounding surface water: a case study of Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia. Sustainable Water Resources Management, v. 5, 1641-1649. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-019-00328-z.

Alias, C.; Feretti, D.; Benassi, L.; Abbá, A.; Gelatti, U.; et al., 2020. The release of contaminants from steel slags and natural aggregates: Evaluation of toxicity and genotoxicity. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, v. 62, (1), 66-77. https://doi.org/10.1002/em.22407.

American Public Health Association (APHA); American Water Works Association (AWWA); Water Environment Federation (WEF), 2023. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (24. ed.). APHA, Washington, D.C.

Anand, N.; Palani, S., 2022. A comprehensive investigation of toxicity and pollution potential of municipal solid waste landfill leachate. Science of the Total Environment, v. 838, (part 1), 155891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155891.

Arunbabu, V.; Indu, K.; Ramasamy, E.V., 2017. Leachate pollution index as an effective tool in determining the phytotoxicity of municipal solid waste leachate. Waste Management, v. 68, 329-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2017.07.012.

Baskin, C.C.; Baskin, J.M., 1998. Germination ecophysiology of herbaceous plant species in a temperate region. American Journal of Botany, v. 75, (2), 286-305. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1988.tb13441.x.

Bhatt, P.; Bhandari, G.; Bilal, M., 2022. Occurrence, toxicity impacts and mitigation of emerging micropollutants in the aquatic environments: recent tendencies and perspectives. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, v. 10, (3), 107598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2022.107598.

Białowiec, A., 2015. Transpiration as landfill leachate phytotoxicity indicator. Waste Management, v. 39, 189-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2015.02.002.

Brasil, 2011. Resolução CONAMA n. 430, de 13 de maio de 2011. Diário Oficial da União, Conselho Nacional de Meio Ambiente.

Castilhos Júnior, A., 2003. Resíduos sólidos urbanos: aterro sustentável para municípios de pequeno porte. ABES, RiMA, Rio de Janeiro, 288 p.

Ceará, 2017. Resolução COEMA n. 2, de 2 de fevereiro de 2017. Diário Oficial do Estado, Conselho Estadual de Meio Ambiente.

Christudoss, A.C.; Kundu, R.; Dimkpa, C.O.; Mukerjee, A., 2025. Aging of disposable face masks in landfill leachate poses cyto-genotoxic risks to Allium cepa: Perils of uncontrolled disposal of medical waste. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, v. 220, 109472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109472.

Coelho, D.; Silva, K.; Silva, K.; Santos, W.; Mesquita, F.; et al., 2015. Caracterização do percolado produzido no aterro sanitário do município de Mossoró/RN. In: III Inovagri Internation Meeting, Fortaleza, CE.

Costa, A.M.; Alfaia, R.G.S.M.; Campos, J.C., 2019. Landfill leachate treatment in Brazil–An overview. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 232, 110-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.11.006.

Curtis, J.F.; Hughes, M.F.; Mason, R.P.; Eling, T.E., 1988. Peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of (bi)sulfite: reaction of free radical metabolites of (bi)sulfite with (+/-)-7,8-dihydroxy-7, 8-dihydroxy[a]pyrene. Carcinogenesis, v. 9, (11), 2015-2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/9.11.2015.

Emmanouil, C.; Giannakis, I.; Zykas, G.Z., 2024. Terrestrial bioassays for assessing the biochemical and toxicological impact of biosolids application derived from wastewater treatment plants. Science of the Total Environment, v. 931, 172718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172718.

Gamoń, F.; Tomaszewski, M.; Ziembińska-Buczyńska, A., 2019. Ecotoxicological study of landfill leachate treated in the ANAMMOX process. Water Quality Research Journal, v. 54, (3), 230-241. https://doi.org/10.2166/wqrj.2019.042.

Ghosh, P.; Thakur, I.S.; Kaushik, A., 2017. Bioassays for toxicological risk assessment of landfill leachate: a review. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v. 141, 259-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.03.023.

Giri, S.; Debroy, A.; Nag, A.; Mukherjee, A., 2024. Evaluating the role of soil EPS in modifying the toxicity potential of the mixture of polystyrene nanoplastics and xenoestrogen, Bisphenol A (BPA) in Allium cepa L. Journal of Hazardous Materials, v. 477, 135252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135252.

Gomes, N.; Almeida, M.; Melo, M.; Monteiro, V.; Oliveira, R., 2018. Influência de parâmetros físico-químicos na composição de constituintes tóxicos em lixiviado de aterro sanitário. Revista Matéria, v. 23, (3), e-12155. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-707620180003.0489.

Jolaosho, T.L., 2024. Characterization of potentially toxic elements in leachates from active and closed landfills in Nigeria and their effects on groundwater systems using spatial, indexical, chemometric and health risk techniques. Chemosphere, v. 369, 143678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143678.

Kjeldsen, P.; Barlaz, M.A.; Rooker, A.P.; Baun, A.; Christensen, T., 2002. Present and long-term composition of MSW landfill leachate: a review. Environmental Science and Technology, v. 32, (4), 297-336. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643380290813462.

Klauck, C.; Rodrigues, M.; Silva, L., 2013. Toxicological evaluation of landfill leachate using plant (Allium cepa) and fish (Leporinus obtusidens) bioassays. Waste Management & Research, v. 31, (11), 1148-1153. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X13502388.

Klauck, C.R.; Giacobbo, A.; Altenhofen, C.G.; Silva, L.B.; Meneguzzi, A. et al., 2017. Toxicity elimination of landfill leachate by hybrid processing of advanced oxidation process and adsorption. Environmental Technology & Innovation, v. 8, 246-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2017.07.006.

Leme, D.M.; Marin-Morales, M.A., 2009. Allium cepa test in environmental monitoring: a review on its application. Mutatation Research, v. 682, (1), 71-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrrev.2009.06.002.

Liu, D.; Jiang, W.; Li, M., 1992. Effects of trivalent and hexavalent chromium on root growth and cell division of Allium cepa. Hereditas, v. 117, (1), 23-29. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1601-5223.1992.tb00003.x.

Liu, D.; Zhai, L.; Jiang, W.; Wang, W., 1995. Effects of Mg2+, Co2+ and Hg2+ on the nucleus and nucleolus in root tip cells of Allium cepa. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 55, 779-787. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00203767.

Mallick, S.; Patel, H.; Gawande, S.; Wadee, A.; Chen, H. et al., 2024. Using landfill leachate to indicate the chemical and biochemical activities in elevated temperature landfills. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 351, 119719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119719.

Nascimento, S.; Silva, E.; Gomes, N.; Ribeiro, L.; Melo, M. et al., 2022. Variação sazonal de indicadores físico-químicos e fitotoxicológicos em lixiviado de aterro sanitário localizado no semiárido brasileiro. Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, v. 27, (6), 1097-1104. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-415220210172.

Naveen, B.P.; Mahapatra, D.M.; Sitharam, T.G.; Sivapullaiah, P.V.; Ramachandra, T.V., 2017. Physico-chemical and biological characterization of urban municipal landfill leachate. Environmental Pollution, v. 220, (Part A), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.09.002.

Parvan, L.; Leite, T.; Freitas, T.; Pedrosa, P.; Calixto, J. et al., 2020. Bioensaio com Allium cepa revela genotoxicidade de herbicida com flumioxazina. Revista Pan-Amazônica de Saúde, v. 11, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.5123/S2176-6223202000544.

Pellenz, L.; Borba, F.H.; Daroit, D.J.; Lassen, M.F.M.; Baroni, S. et al., 2020. Landfill leachate treatment by a boron-doped diamond-based photo-electro-Fenton system integrated with biological oxidation: A toxicity, genotoxicity and by products assessment. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 264, 110473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110473.

Pohland, F.G.; Harper, S.R., 1986. Critical review and summary of leachate and gas production from landfills. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, 182 p.

Qian, Y.; Hu, P.; Lang-Yona, N.; Xu, M.; Guo, C. et al., 2024. Global landfill leachate characteristics: Occurrences and abundances of environmental contaminants and the microbiome. Journal of Hazardous Materials. v. 461, 132446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132446.

Ribeiro, L.; Gomes, N.; Almeida, M.; Paiva, W., 2021. Análise da relação de indicadores físico-químicos do lixiviado gerado em um aterro sanitário no Semiárido Brasileiro. Agropecuária Científica no Semiárido, v. 17, (1), 36-42. https://doi.org/10.30969/acsa.v17i1.1309.

Riegraf, C.; Reifferscheid, G.; Moscovici, L.; Shakibai, D.; Hollert, H. et al., 2021. Coupling high-performance thin-layer chromatography with a battery of cell-based assays reveals bioactive components in wastewater and landfill leachates. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v. 2014, 112092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112092.

Sang, N.; Li, G., 2004. Genotoxicity of municipal landfill leachate on root tips of Vicia faba. Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, v. 560, (2), 159-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrgentox.2004.02.015.

Sevin, S.; Tuntun, H.; Yipel, M.; Aluç, Y.; Ekici, H., 2023. Concentration of essential and non-essential elements and carcinogenic / non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of commercial bee pollens from Turkey. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, v. 75, 127104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.127104.

Siddiqi, S.; Al-Mamun, A.; Sana, A.; Baawain, M.; Choudhury, M.R., 2022. Characterization and pollution potential of leachate from urban landfills during dry and wet periods in arid regions. Water Supply, v. 22, (3), 3462-3483. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2021.392.

Silva, E., 2022. Ecotoxicidade de resíduos sólidos urbanos e de lixiviado gerado em aterro sanitário. Doctoral Thesis, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande. http://dspace.sti.ufcg.edu.br:8080/jspui/handle/riufcg/24967. Retrieved 27-04-2025, from https://www.ppgeca.ufcg.edu.br/.

Silva, L.; Bezerra, A.; Sousa, K.; Sasaki, J.; Monteiro, V., 2023. Influência de parâmetros físico-químicos na fitotoxicidade do lixiviado gerado no aterro sanitário em Campina Grande – PB. In: X Congresso Brasileiro de Geotecnia Ambiental, IX Congresso Brasileiro de Geossintéticos. Salvador, Bahia, v. 1, p. 454-461.

Silva, M.; Albuquerque, M.; Cartaxo, A.; Canto, C.; Pearson, H. et al., 2019. Caracterização físico-química do lixiviado do aterro sanitário metropolitano de João Pessoa – PB. In: Anais do Congresso Brasileiro de Gestão Ambiental e Sustentabilidade, v. 7 (Accessed on April 29, 2025) at:. http://eventos.ecogestaobrasil.net/congestas/.

Sousa, K.J.L., 2024. Determinação da toxicidade do lixiviado de aterro sanitário empregando bioensaios em Allium cepa. Master’s Dissertation, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande. Retrieved 27-04-2025, from https://www.ppgeca.ufcg.edu.br/.

Sousa, T.A.T.; Dantas, E.R.B.; Lopes, W.S.; Leite, V.D.; Sousa, J.T. et al., 2023. Toxicity assessment of sanitary landfill leachate before and after Fenton treatment process. Science of the Total Environment, v. 893, 164870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164870.

Srivastava, R.; Kumar, D.; Gupta, S.K., 2005. Bioremediation of municipal sludge by vermitechnology and toxicity assessment by Allium cepa. Bioresource Technology, v. 96, (17), 1867-1871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.01.029.

Steinkellner, H.; Mun-Sik, K.; Helma, C;. Ecker, S.; Ma, T.H. et al., 1998. Genotoxic effects of heavy metals: comparative investigation with plant bioassays. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, v. 31, (2), 183-191. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-2280(1998)31:2%3C183::AID-EM11%3E3.0.CO;2-8.

Sturbelle, R.; Pinho, D.; Restani, R.; Oliveira, G.; Garcias, G. et al., 2010. Avaliação da atividade mutagênica e antimutagênica da Aloe vera em teste de Allium cepa e teste de micrfonúcleo em linfócitos humanos e binucleados. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, v. 20, (3), 409-415. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-695X2010000300019.

Tavolacci, B.C.; Nain, P.; Antil, A., 2025. Aquatic toxicity of leachates from crystalline silicon photovoltaic componentes. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 382, 125400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125400.

Vaverková, M.D.; Elbl, J.; Koda, E.; Adamcová, D.; Bilgin, A. et al., 2020. Chemical composition and hazardous effects of leachate from the active municipal solid waste landfill surrounded by farmlands. Sustainability, v. 12, (11), 4531. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114531.

Zegzouti, Y.; Aguelmous, A.; Khadra, A.; Boutafda, A.; Fels, L. et al., 2020. Genotoxicity evaluation of different types of leachate treated with Aspergillus flavus using Vicia faba micronucleus. Environmental Technology & Innovation, v. 18, 100656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2020.100656.

Zhu, M.; Zhang, M.; Tang, M.; Wang, J.; Liu, L. et al., 2023. The concentrationdependent physiological damage, oxidative stress, and DNA lesions in Caenorhabditis elegans by subacute exposure to landfill leachate. Chemosphere, v. 339, 139544, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139544.

Zucconi, F.; Monaco, A.; Forte, M.; Bertoldi, M., 1985. Phytotoxins during the stabilization of organic matter. In: Gasser, J.K.R. (ed.), Composting of agricultural and other wastes. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 73-85.