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

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]