Toxic effect of landfill leachate on microalgae

Leachates from two landfills, namely Junk Bay (JB) and Gin Drinkers' Bay (GDB), were assessed for their acute toxicity using four green algal species, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, C. vulgaris, Scenedesmus sp. and Dunaliella tertiolecta. JB leachate was more toxic to the four algal species tested than leachate from GDB landfill. The growth rates of all four species in 50% JB leachate, and two species (C. vulgaris and D. tertiolecta) in 50% GDB leachate were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those in the control (Bristol Medium only). Values of 96h-EC50 of JB leachate for all four species were lower than those of GDB. The high contents of ammoniacal-nitrogen and organic compounds (such as volatile fatty acids) seemed to be the factors governing the toxicity of leachate on algae. There were differential sensitivities to leachate exhibited by the tested algal species. Susceptibility to leachates in terms of cell number were in the ascending order of C. pyrenoidosa, Scenedesmus sp., C. vulgaris and D. tertiolecta.