Title: Assessment of genotoxicity of landfill leachate by comet assay using golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Authors: Veerapas Na roi-et; Wilai Chiemchaisri; Chart Chiemchaisri; Kazuo Yamamoto

Addresses: Center of Advanced Studies in Industrial Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, 50 Phaholyothin Rd., Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. ' Center of Advanced Studies in Industrial Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, 50 Phaholyothin Rd., Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. ' Center of Advanced Studies in Industrial Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, 50 Phaholyothin Rd., Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. ' Environmental Science Center, Department of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

Abstract: Landfill leachate is a complex mixture of various inorganic and organic compounds. The possibility of using comet assay in relation to pollutant analysis for characterising genotoxicity of landfill leachate was studied. Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) was used as the biomonitor with comet assay. Polluted water of fresh and old leachates in different gradients was employed in the experiments. High correlation (r² > 0.79) between DNA damages and exposure time/gradients of leachate were found. Acute toxicity of fresh leachate gave significant higher DNA damages than the old leachate at same range of COD contamination. The EC₅₀ in terms of DNA damage of fresh and old leachates were 5166 and 90,571 mgCOD/L, respectively. The results illustrate that the fresh leachate contained extremely higher toxic organic substances than the old leachate. In summary, comet assay of golden pothos is an efficient, simple and reproducible tool for the assessment of the genotoxicity in landfill leachate.

Keywords: comet assay; genotoxicity; landfill leachate; golden pothos; Epipremnum aureum; DNA damage; biomonitoring; water pollution; toxicity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2012.049226

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2012 Vol.15 No.3/4/5/6, pp.247 - 260

Published online: 17 Dec 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article