Evaluation of textile laundry effluents and their cytotoxic effects on Allium cepa

Industrial laundries have water as one of their main inputs and they release effluents in large amounts, with a high polluting load, which are usually discarded into the environment, or they are insufficiently treated for release into the neighboring water bodies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiencies of the biological treatments in an industrial textile laundry and their environmental impact on the surface waters of the stream where the dump is usually made, by using cytotoxicity tests on the meristematic root cells of Allium cepa L. The results have shown, for the most part, that the treated effluents over a period of 24 h showed reductions in their mitotic index. The treatments on the raw effluents showed cytotoxic effects when compared to control, with cell division recoveries after 24 h in the waters. Cytotoxic effects were additionally observed in the stream waters, at a point before the dump, indicating that they received a pollutant load, before the effluent disposal site of the evaluated industrial laundry. Notably, the treatments that were being applied by the industrial laundry were effective throughout the processing, reducing the concentrations of the toxic substances. When considering the data presented, it is now understood that there is a constant need for the evaluation of industrial effluents, as well as for the waters of the streams and the rivers that receive these disposals, in order to preserve and maintain the quality of the waters, the organisms, and consequently, the ecosystems.

Nuclear and morpho-histopathological alterations in Astyanax altiparanae exposed to effluent from the process of anodizing aluminum

Aluminum is a metal widely used from household utensils to civil construction. Anodizing aluminum is a procedure to form a thick layer of aluminum oxide on the surface in order to confer greater resistance to the material. This process generates an effluent with acidic pH and a high concentration of sulfate. Alternatives for the treatment of this effluent involve the use of the chemical precipitation technique, which can be used with salts of barium chloride (BaCl2), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and aluminum hydroxide with commercial limestone (Cc/Al (OH)3). The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of effluents on Astyanax altiparanae (Lambari), by means of somatic, genetic, morphological, and histological markers after 24 and 96 h of exposure. After measuring the biometric data of the animals and the weight of the liver, we found that the condition factor (K) of individuals exposed to the effluent CaCl2 showed a slight reduction in growth after 96 h while the hepatosomatic index (HSI) remained unchanged for all effluents in both sampling times. The micronucleus test with erythrocytes indicated that the raw effluent (E2) induced nuclear changes after 24 h; however, this effect did not persist after 96 h of exposure. Branchial arches were collected and according to Bernet's index for histopathology, all effluents except Cc/Al (OH)3, induced significant changes in the gills. In accordance with the index of Poleksic and Mitrovic-Tutundzic, CaCl2 was the only effluent to compromise branchial operation. The branchial morphology investigated by SEM showed that the raw effluent (E1) induced injuries and compromised gill functions. This study reinforces the importance of biological tests for the assessment and validation of physical chemicals used and effluent treatment techniques as well as the development and application of biological parameters before the wastewater release, whether in a raw state or a treated one.

Citotoxidade de efluente de lavanderia industrial e de águas superficiais do córrego Cleópatra localizado no município de Maringá-PR

Devido à grande relevância no papel industrial, principalmente em alguns setores, os recursos hídricos assumem condições de grande necessidade de oferta, contudo, empresas tornam-se demandantes do recurso e buscam fixar-se em regiões com oferta adequada. Contudo os efluentes gerados por estes setores afetam a qualidade da água de rios e lagos, ocasionados por descartes e tratamentos ineficientes Um dos setores de atividade de alto impacto ambiental é a indústria têxtil, e nesse segmento as lavanderias industriais surgiram como atividades assessoriais para o beneficiamento dos tecidos. As indústrias têxteis e as lavanderias têm a água como um de seus principais insumos, e liberam efluentes em grandes quantidades e com elevada carga poluidora, que geralmente são descartados no ambiente in natura ou são ineficientemente tratados. Devido a necessidade do monitoramento biológico destes efluentes e dos locais de descarte dos mesmos, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar o potencial citotóxico dos efluentes bruto e das lagoas de tratamento de uma lavanderia industrial, localizada na região urbana do município de Maringá – PR, e das águas superficiais do córrego Cleópatra, local de lançamento dos efluentes, usando o sistema-teste de células meristemáticas de raiz de Allium cepa L. Os experimentos foram distribuídos em 5 grupos, com 5 bulbos cada: 1) Controle negativo; 2) Efluente bruto; 3) Efluente da lagoa de lodo ativado; 4) Efluente tratado; 5) Águas superficiais do córrego no local do despejo. As raízes dos bulbos foram coletadas em três períodos amostrais: Controle do próprio bulbo (Co-0h); tratamento com os efluentes por 24 horas (Tr-24h); e recuperação em água filtrada por mais 24 horas (Re-24h) para reversão de possíveis danos. O controle negativo permaneceu durante todo o período amostral em água filtrada. O índice mitótico foi calculado pela contagem de 5.000 células por grupo e a análise estatística realizada pelo Teste do Qui-quadrado (?=0,05). De acordo com os resultados encontrados, todos os efluentes no tratamento por 24h apresentaram redução no índice mitótico, entretanto somente o efluente bruto apresentou efeito citotóxico, quando comparado ao controle do próprio bulbo, havendo recuperação da divisão celular após 24h em água. No tratamento com efluente tratado os resultados apresentaram efeito citotóxico somente para o período de recuperação por 24h. As demais amostras avaliadas não apresentaram danos significativos em relação ao controle. Considerando os dados acima expostos, entende-se a necessidade da avaliação constante dos efluentes industriais e das águas dos córregos e rios que recebem esses despejos, com intuito de preservar e manter a qualidade da água, dos organismos e consequentemente dos ecossistemas.Apoio: Fundação Araucária

Genetic instability in farmers using pesticides: A study in Brazil with analysis combining alkaline comet and micronucleus assays

The use of pesticides to prevent and control pests also increases food production. Pesticides are widely used by contemporary farmers, especially in Brazil, where the economy is based on agriculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of pesticide use in rural workers in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. DNA damage in whole blood cells was measured by the comet assay, while the frequency of cell types, abnormalities, and nuclear damage was estimated using the buccal micronucleus cytome assay. Samples of buccal mucosa were collected from 50 male volunteers (27 not exposed to pesticides and 23 occupationally exposed to pesticides). Among them, 44 volunteered for blood sampling (24 unexposed and 20 exposed). In the comet assay, the exposed farmers had a higher damage index than non-exposed ones. There were also statistically significant differences between the groups in the buccal micronucleus cytome assay. Farmers exhibited an increase in basal cell numbers, and cytogenetic alterations, represented by condensed chromatin and karyolitic cells. Comparisons between cell morphologies and epidemiological factors indicated an increased number of condensed chromatin and karyolitic cells in individuals who were responsible for preparation and transportation of pesticides to agricultural machines. Thus, the participants in this study who were exposed to pesticides were more sensitive to genetic damage, and thereby, more susceptible to diseases resulting from such damage. These results demonstrated that health policies should be developed for pesticide-exposed farmers to better mitigate risks and damage to their health.