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Updated: Nov 8, 2025
Studying Neurobehavioral Effects of Environmental Pollutants on Zebrafish Larvae
Published on: February 5, 2020
Exposure to Landfill Leachates Affects the Embryonic Development of Zebrafish, Danio rerio: A Case Study in Yucatan,
Ana M Escalante-Mañe1, Emanuel Hernández-Nuñez2,3, Roger I Méndez-Novelo1
1Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Av. Industrias No Contaminantes por Periférico Norte s/n, Yucatán, Mérida, México.
Abstract:
We report the chemical characterisation and toxic effects of municipal solid waste landfill leachates on the embryonic development of Danio rerio. The results of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of nitrogen-containing groups and aromatic functional groups associated with highly toxic pollutants such as ammonia and heavy metal-humic complexes. Mortalities of up to 93 and 100% were observed in 1:64 and 1:32 landfill leachate dilutions, v/v, respectively. The hatching percentages of the fish were also severely affected, with very low percentages ranging from 0 to 33.3% for 1:32, 1:64 and 1:128 dilutions, v/v. Morphologically, a developmental arrest was evident for all treatments. This study reveals the high toxicity of landfill leachates that could contaminate the aquifer of the Yucatan Peninsula and threaten the health of living organisms.
