A comprehensive assessment of leachate contamination at a non-operational open dumpsite: mycoflora screening, metal soil pollution indices, and ecotoxicological risks

Abstract

demand (COD; 760 ± 6.6 mg L −1 ) indicating the presence of leachate, explained by its close proximity to the landfill cell. Pond L-03 presented higher parameters compared to pond L-02, except for N-ammoniacal and phosphorus levels, explained by the local geological configuration, configured as a slope from the landfill cell towards L-03. Seven filamentous and/or yeast fungi genera were identified, including the opportunistic pathogenic fungi Candida krusei (4 CFU) in an outcrop sample. Regarding soil samples, Br, Se, and I were present at high concentrations leading to high soil contamination (CF ≤ 6). Pond L-02 presented the highest CF for Br (18.14 ± 18.41 mg kg −1 ) and I (10.63 ± 3.66 mg kg −1 ), while pond L-03 presented