Potentials of Aspergillus terreus and Wistar Mice Bioassays as Tools for Monitoring the Environmental Health Concern of E-Waste Disposal

Nigeria, as a developing nation, faces a significant challenge in managing e-waste pollution. The recent study was therefore aimed to explore the potentials of Aspergillus terreus and Wistar mice bioassays as tools for monitoring the environmental health concern of e-waste disposal. The Aspergillus terreus toxicity test was designed in four treatments and control arrangements namely: 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 % and control separately in both fresh and marine water for 24 h at 25 °C. The mice sub-chronic test involved three groups of 8 animals each (4 mice per sex) in which 500 mg/kg BW doses of Products A and B were orally given at 24 h intervals to Groups 2 and 3 while 1 ml/kg BW of normal saline were orally given to Group 1 which serves as control for 14 days at 25 °C. The result revealed elevated levels of heavy metals in products A and B supernatants. Products B and A had the lowest and highest EC50 values of 10.29 % and 6.08 %, in both fresh and marine waters, respectively. There were non-significant (P > 0.05) body/tissue weights decline but significant (P < 0.05) rise in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, urea and creatinine markers of the treated mice were observed after 14 days oral administration of Products A and B. The kidney tissue structures showed more non-cancerous pathological damages than liver tissue structures. Therefore, more studies on reproductive, immunological and cytogenetic health impacts of these wastes are recommended.