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Abstract
Contamination through leachate infiltration in soils and cultivation areas next to final disposal sites of urban solid wastes is one of the main problems caused by the inappropriate handling of wastes and the lack of leachate collection systems. In order to evaluate the effect of leachates that could accidentally reach agricultural crops, quick, simple, and economical ecotoxicological tests were conducted in which germination of seeds as well as stem and roots elongation of Allium cepa and cultivation of vegetables irrigated with different concentrations of leachates were analyzed. Physical-chemical and microbiological analyses were also conducted both on leachates as well as on soil exposed to these substances during vegetable cultivation. The analyzed leachate was classified as stabilized leacheate showing poor biodegradability according to the low ratio (0.07) of biochemical versus chemical oxygen demand (BOD/COD). The bacteria Staphylococcus equorum, Staphylococcus vitilus, Staphylococcus xylosus, and Bacillus subtilis were identified. The results of the ecotoxicological tests showed toxicity signs as well as strong negative effects at leachate concentrations above 25%. In vegetable cultivation, effects such as withering and reduced plant growth were observed in the crops irrigated with leachate at concentrations above 25%. Analysis of cultivation soil showed reduction of fertility and permeability.