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Biological process treatment of landfill leachate produces a significant amount of sludge, characterized by high levels of organic matter from which humic acids are known to activate several enzymes of energy metabolism, stimulating plant growth. This study aimed to characterize humic acids extracted from landfill sludge and assess the effects on plants exposed to different concentrations (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mM C L) by chemical and biological analysis, to elucidate the influence of such organic material and minimize potential risks of using sludge in natura. Landfill humic acids showed high carbon and nitrogen levels, which may represent an important source of nutrients for plants. Biochemical analysis demonstrated an increase of enzyme activity, especially H-ATPase in 2 mM C L landfill humic acid. Additionally, cytogenetic alterations were observed in meristematic and F cells, through nuclear abnormalities and micronuclei. Multivariate statistical analysis provided integration of physical, chemical and biological data. Despite all the nutritional benefits of humic acids and their activation of plant antioxidant systems, the observed biological effects showed concerning levels of mutagenicity.

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Binding and maintaining cells inside microfluidic channels is a challenging task due to the potential release of cells from the channels with the flow and accompanying shear stress. In this work we optimized the binding of human B-lymphocyte cells (HR1K) inside a microfluidic channel and determined the strength of this binding under shear stress of flowing liquid. In order to determine the parameters required for a live/dead test in microfluidic devices, populations of both living and dead cells were tested separately. Channels were prepared in glass-polydimethylsiloxane hybrid chips, with a self-assembled monolayer of 3-(glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) before covalently immobilizing anti-CD20 antibody. Without GPTMS linker, ∼90% of the CD20-expressing cells detached at 200 μl min (the highest flow rate studied). With GPTMS linker, the bonding method proved critical for sustained immobilization of HR1K cells under flow. Masking the channel area during plasma bonding preserves the antibody functionality; the masked surface gives 15% cell detachment at 200 μl min compared with 80% for an unmasked surface. Sealing the chip via clamping (without plasma treatment) was similar to masked plasma treatment (20% detachment) and allowing a post-adhesion stasis time (30 min) did not significantly change the relative cell detachment for the flow rates studied. Membrane integrity and calcium spiking behaviour were measured fluorescently, and demonstrated that the live cells retained comparable functionality to unanchored cells for the duration of the flow experiments. Non-viable HR1K cells were found to detach more readily, exhibiting only 20% cell retention at 200 μl min compared with >80% for live cells.

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Electrocoagulation has recently attracted attention as a potential technique for treating toxic effluents due to its versatility and environmental compatibility, generating a residue chemically suitable to be used as a soil additive. In the present study, landfill leachate sludge hazardous effects were investigated prior and after electrocoagulation process using in vitro assays with the mammalian cells CHO-k1. An integrated strategy for risk assessment was used to correctly estimate the possible adverse landfill leachate sludge effects on human health and ecosystem. Electrocoagulation process proved to be an effective treatment due to possibility to improve effluent adverse characteristics and produce sludge with potential to be used as soil additive. Despite low cytoxicity, the residue presented genotoxic and mutagenic effects, indicating a capacity to induce genetic damages, probably due to induction of polyploidization process in cells. The observed effects demand an improvement of waste management methods for reduce negative risks of landfill leachate sludge application.