Biochemical Effects of Hospital Waste Dumpsite Leachate on Kidney and Liver Function in Wistar Rats: Comparative Study of Continuous Exposure with Abatement versus Discontinuation

Abstract

Hospital waste dumpsites pose significant environmental and health risks due to
the leachate generated, which contains a complex mixture of hazardous
substances. This study investigates the biochemical effects of continuous exposure
to hospital waste dumpsite leachate on Wistar rats, with a comparative analysis of
the effects of abatement and discontinuation of leachate exposure. Male Wistar
rats, aged 7 to 8 weeks, were randomly assigned to two groups and allowed to
acclimatize for two weeks. Group A served as the control, while Group B was
administered hospital waste leachate with an abatement agent for a duration of 30
days. Following this exposure period, both the control group and a subset of the
treatment group were assessed and euthanized. Blood samples were collected for
biochemical analysis. The remaining rats in the treatment group were then divided
into two additional groups: Group C, where leachate administration was halted,
and Group D, where leachate was continued alongside abatement. After an
additional 30 days, the surviving rats were examined and sacrificed, with blood
samples taken for biochemical analysis. The results indicated that continuous
leachate exposure significantly elevated serum urea, hydrogen carbonate, sodium,
chloride, total bilirubin (5.50±0.01 mg/dl), conjugated bilirubin, alkaline
phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase
(ALT) (5.50±0.01 mg/dl) levels, suggesting nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.
Upon discontinuation of leachate exposure, there was a marked recovery in most
biochemical parameters, demonstrating the potential reversibility of some toxic
effects. Conversely, abatement with a mixture of garlic extract, ginger extract, and
honey also promoted recovery but to a lesser extent than discontinuation alone.
The findings contribute to a better understanding of the toxicological impacts of
leachate and provide a foundation for future research into mitigation measures.