Testing for the Environmental Fate and Safety of E-Waste using Nitrobacter and Mice Model

Abstract

The present study aimed to test for the environmental fate and safety of e-waste using Nitrobacter sp. and mice model assays. The Nitrobacter sp. toxicity test was designed in four treatments and control set-ups namely 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 % and control separately in both fresh and marine water for 24 h at 25 °C. The Wister albino mice were separated into three set-ups of 8 animals each (4 females and 4 males) in which 1 ml/kg bw of normal saline which serves as control set-up was orally administered to Group 1 while 500 mg/kg bw doses of Products A and B preparations were administered to Groups 2 and 3, respectively once daily for 14 days at 25 °C. The result revealed higher values of heavy metals in products A and B. Products A and B had the highest and lowest EC50 values of - 111.19 % and - 922.26 % in fresh and marine water, respectively. The oral administration of 500 mg/kg bw of products A and B resulted in non-significant (P > 0.05) body/tissue weights decrease and increase in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, urea and creatinine in the biochemical profile of the exposed mice. There were more serious but non-cancerous histopathological injuries to the kidney tissue structures than liver tissue structures. The study demonstrated the possible high toxicity of unregulated disposal of these e-wastes into the environments and animals and therefore recommends proper treatment or recycling of these wastes before disposal.