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

摘要

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 (r~2 > 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 EC_(50) 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.