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In vitro cytotoxic assessment of e-waste-related chemical pollution in impacted soil matrix

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Abstract

The environmental quality and toxicity of soil from some selected informal e-waste sites in West Africa was assessed on PLHC-1 liver cells. In addition, toxicity mechanisms such as apoptosis, necrosis and necroptosis were analysed in order to determine the effect of the actual chemical mixture present in the e-waste soil matrix. The investigation revealed that although e-waste soil extracts (polar and non-polar) and elutriates were significantly cytotoxic at the tested concentration (16 mg soil EQ/ml), PLHC-1 cell viability was not reduced below 50%. The non-polar extracts were more toxic compared to polar extracts and elutriates. The cytotoxic potency of soil from the informal e-waste-recycling sites ranged in this order: Alaba > Godome-Kouhounou > Agbogblosie. The study revealed that all e-waste soil extracts and elutriates induced significant (P < 0.01) PLHC-1 cell death by apoptosis and necrosis; however, cell death by apoptosis was higher compared to that by necrosis. The results indicated that except for non-polar extracts (N4, B4 and G4) from open burning areas that induced significant (P < 0.01) PLHC-1 cell death by necroptosis, other extracts and elutriates could not cause cell death by necroptosis. The study has demonstrated that soils from the Alaba e-waste site in Lagos could be more toxic than soils from Godome-Kouhounou (Cotonou) and Agbogblosie (Accra) e-waste sites and further highlighted open burning as an informal e-waste-handling method with greater negative impact on soil quality in the e-waste sites. The study emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory agencies to introduce regular residue-monitoring programmes in order to forestall the adverse effects of soil pollution episodes in the e-waste sites.

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Data availability

The generated datasets analysed in this study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Professor Augustine Arukwe of the Department of Biological Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, for providing the analytical technique, laboratory space and consumables for the e-waste soil extractions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

    Chukwuebuka ThankGod Eze

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

    Obianuju Oluchukwu Eze

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

    Tochukwu Ernest Ugochukwu

  4. Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria

    Chukwuebuka ThankGod Eze, Nnamdi Henry Amaeze & Adebayo Akeem Otitoloju

  5. CEMAC, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria

    Emeka Bright Ogbuene

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Contributions

Chukwuebuka ThankGod Eze and Adebayo Akeem Otitoloju designed the study. Chukwuebuka ThankGod Eze, Adebayo Akeem Otitoloju and Obianuju Oluchukwu Eze performed the research. Chukwuebuka ThankGod Eze, Tochukwu Ernest Ugochukwu, Obianuju Oluchukwu Eze, Nnamdi Henry Amaeze, Emeka Bright Ogbuene and Adebayo Akeem Otitoloju analysed the data. Chukwuebuka ThankGod Eze, Adebayo Akeem Otitoloju and Obianuju Oluchukwu Eze prepared the manuscript. Tochukwu Ernest Ugochukwu, Nnamdi Henry Amaeze and Emeka Bright Ogbuene contributed in performing the research and writing of manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chukwuebuka ThankGod Eze.

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Eze, C.T., Eze, O.O., Ugochukwu, T.E. et al. In vitro cytotoxic assessment of e-waste-related chemical pollution in impacted soil matrix. Environ Monit Assess 194, 209 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09717-4

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