Biochemical Evaluation of Oxidative Damage Induced by Municipal Landfill Leachate in the Liver and Kidney of Albino Rats

Contamination of ground water by landfill leachate poses potential health hazards for man and his environment. This study investigated the effects of Olusosun Landfill Leachate (OLL) from Ojota, Lagos State, Nigeria on markers of oxidative stress in the liver and kidney of rats after subchronic exposure. Thirty six male rats were allocated into control (tap water) and OLL-treated (10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) groups with six animals in each group. The animals were exposed to OLL via drinking water for 90 days. Serum was obtained and used to determine markers of liver and kidney functions: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, creatinine and urea by spectrophotometry. The following markers of oxidative stress were determined in the Post Mitochondrial Fraction (PMF) of liver and kidney; Lipid Peroxidation (LPO), H 2 O 2 , glutathione and activities of Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), catalase and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). Exposure to OLL resulted in increase in the activities of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, SOD, GST and catalase and also increased the concentration of bilirubin, LPO and H 2 O 2 in the liver of the rats; however there was a decrease in glutathione level and GPx activity. In the kidney, OLL exposure elevated the concentration of urea, creatinine, MDA, H 2 O 2 and GSH and also induced GST and SOD activities but depleted catalase and GPx activities.These results show that OLL exposure resulted in hepatic and renal damages in rats and suggest the role of free radicals in its mechanism of toxicity