Impact of Heavy Metal Contamination from Hospital Waste Dumpsite Leachate on Lipid and Haematological Parameters in Male Wistar Rats: Efficacy of Abatement Strategies

This study evaluated the biochemical and hematological effects of hospital waste dumpsite leachate exposure on male Wistar rats and the potential recovery using natural abatement agents. Male Wistar rats (7-8 weeks old) were divided into two groups and acclimated for two weeks. Group A served as the control, while Group B was exposed to hospital waste leachate combined with an abatement agent for 30 days. At the end of this period, a subset of rats was euthanized for analysis, while the remaining rats were divided into two new groups: Group C (cessation of leachate exposure) and Group D (continued exposure with abatement). After another 30 days, these groups were also analyzed. Leachate exposure caused significant biochemical disruptions, including increased serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL levels, alongside decreased LDL levels. Hematological parameters revealed elevated white blood cell counts, altered red blood cell indices, and reduced hemoglobin concentration. Rats treated with the abatement agents (garlic, ginger, and honey extracts) showed partial normalization of these parameters, demonstrating their potential to mitigate the toxic effects of leachate. These findings highlight the toxicological risks of hospital waste leachate and the efficacy of natural abatement strategies in reducing adverse impacts. This underscores the urgent need for improved healthcare waste management and further research into natural remediation approaches.