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Acute and Sub-lethal Toxicity of Landfill Leachate Towards Two Aquatic Macro-invertebrates: Demonstrating the Remediation Potential of Aerobic Digestion

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Abstract

A specific landfill leachate that contained 1.036 mgl−1of 2-chlorobiphenyl was used in the study (255 mg l−1 COD and 133 mg l−1 BOD5). Three, 2-l semi-continuous batch reactors (SBRs) were used to simulate the treatment potential of this method on a small scale. Aerobic digestion effectively reduced the leachates COD concentration. Regardless of dilution, the leachates COD reached a <20 mg l−1 equilibrium after 96 h exposure to aerobic digestion, however, increasing the level of dilution accelerated the process. In untreated leachate, the LC50 for Asellus aquaticus was 57% v/v leachate in deionised water and 5% for Gammarus pulex (96 h, static LC50 tests without nutrition and oxygen depleting conditions). After being exposed to aerobic digestion, these values rose to 95% and 40%, respectively. Prolonged exposure to a 1:20 sub-lethal dilution of the aforementioned leachate has been previously shown to affect the breeding colony size of Asellus aquaticus and a 1:66 dilution influenced the fecundity of a Gammarus pulex population. After remediation by aerobic digestion, however, the population dynamics of both test species remained unaltered.

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Abbreviations

BOD5:

5 day biochemical oxygen demand

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

LC50:

Lethal concentration in which 50% of the test animals died

Mgl−1:

Milligram per litre

Ml:

Millilitre

MLSS:

Mixed liquor suspended solids

PCB:

Polychlorinated Biphenyl

v/v:

Dilution

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, UK

    M. C. Bloor & C. J. Banks

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  1. M. C. Bloor
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  2. C. J. Banks
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Correspondence to M. C. Bloor.

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Bloor, M.C., Banks, C.J. Acute and Sub-lethal Toxicity of Landfill Leachate Towards Two Aquatic Macro-invertebrates: Demonstrating the Remediation Potential of Aerobic Digestion. Hydrobiologia 556, 387–397 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1201-6

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