A Dangerous Couple: Sequential Effect of Phosphorus Flame-Retardant and Polyurethane Decrease Locomotor Activity in Planarian Girardia tigrina.

Understanding the interplay among organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), microplastics, and freshwater organisms is crucial for unravelling the dynamics within freshwater environments and foreseeing the potential impacts of organic pollutants and plastic contamination. For that purpose, the present research assessed the exposure impact of 10 mg L-1 flame-retardant aluminium diethylphosphinate (ALPI), 10 µg mg-1liver microplastics polyurethane (PU), and the combination of ALPI and PU on the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina. The exposure to both ALPI and PU revealed a sequential effect, i.e., a decrease in locomotor activity, while oxidative stress biomarkers (total glutathione, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, lipid peroxidation) and metabolic responses (cholinesterase activity, electron transport system, and lactate dehydrogenase) remained unaffected. Despite this fact, it was possible to observe that the range of physiological responses in exposed organisms varied, in particular in the cases of the electron transport system, cholinesterase activity, glutathione S-transferase, catalase, and levels of total glutathione and proteins, showing that the energetic costs for detoxification and antioxidant capacity might be causing a lesser amount of energy allocated for the planarian activity. By examining the physiological, behavioural, and ecological responses of planarians to these pollutants, insights can be gained into broader ecosystem-level effects and inform strategies for mitigating environmental risks associated with OPFRs and microplastic pollution in freshwater environments.

Particulate matter from a tropical city in southeast Brazil: Impact of biomass burning on polycyclic aromatic compounds levels, health risks, and in vitro toxicity.

In the context of a rising global temperature, biomass burning represents an increasing risk to human health, due to emissions of highly toxic substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Size-segregated particulate matter (PM) was collected in a region within the sugarcane belt of São Paulo state (Brazil), where biomass burning is still frequent, despite the phasing out of manual harvesting preceded by fire. The median of the total concentration of the 15 PAHs determined was 2.3 ± 1.8 ng m-3 (n = 19), where 63% of this content was in PM1.0. Concentrations of OPAHs and NPAHs were about an order of magnitude lower. PM2.5 collected in the dry season, when most of the fires occur, presented PAHs and OPAHs total concentrations three times higher than in the wet season, showing positive correlations with fire foci number and levoglucosan (a biomass burning marker). These results, added to the fact that biomass burning explained 65% of the data variance (PCA analysis), evidenced the importance of this practice as a source of PAHs and OPAHs to the regional atmosphere. Conversely, NPAHs appeared to be mainly derived from diesel-powered vehicles. The B[a]P equivalent concentration was estimated to be 4 times higher in the dry season than in the wet season, and was greatly increased during a local fire event. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of PM1.0 organic extracts were assessed using in vitro tests with human liver HepG2 cells. For both types of tests, significant toxicity was only observed for samples collected during the dry season. Persistent DNA damage that may have impaired the DNA repair system was also observed. The results indicated that there was a health risk associated with the air particulate mixture, mainly related to biomass burning, demonstrating the urgent need for better remediation actions to prevent the occurrence of burning events.

Integrating morphological, biochemical, behavioural, and molecular approaches to investigate developmental toxicity triggered by tebuthiuron in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Tebuthiuron (TBU), a phenylurea herbicide, is widely applied in agricultural and non-agricultural soils. Because TBU resists degradation, it can contaminate water and reach the biota once it is released into the environment. However, the potential toxic effects of TBU on aquatic developing organisms have been poorly studied. By taking advantage of the early-life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio), we have combined morphological, biochemical, behavioural, and molecular approaches to investigate the developmental toxicity triggered by environmentally relevant concentrations (from 0.1 to 1000 µg/L) of TBU. Exposure to TBU did not elicit morphological abnormalities but it significantly delayed hatching. In addition, TBU altered the frequency of tail coils in one-day post-fertilization (dpf) old embryos. Moreover, TBU exposure during four days significantly inhibited the whole body AChE activity of larvae. At the molecular level, TBU did not significantly affect the mRNA levels of four genes (elavl3, gfap, gap43, and shha) that play key roles during the neurodevelopment of zebrafish. By assessing the motor responses to repeated light-dark stimuli, 6 dpf larvae exposed to TBU displayed hyperactivity, showing greater travelling distance during the dark periods. Our categorization of swimming speed revealed an interesting finding - after the light was turned off, the exposed larvae abandoned the freezing mode (<2 mm/s) and travelled mainly at cruising speed (2-20 mm/s), showing that the larval hyperactivity did not translate into higher swimming velocity. Overall, our results offer new insights into the TBU toxicity to developing organisms, namely effects in AChE activity and hyperactivity, providing support data for future studies considering environmental risk assessment of this herbicide.

Single and mixture toxicity evaluation of three phenolic compounds to the terrestrial ecosystem.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are primarily studied regarding endocrine-mediated effects in mammals and fish. However, EDCs can cause toxicity by mechanisms outside the endocrine system, and, as they are released continuously into soils, they may pose risks to terrestrial organisms. In this work, the plant Allium cepa and the earthworm Eisenia foetida were used as test systems to evaluate the toxicity and cyto-/geno-toxicity of three environmental phenols known as EDCs (Bisphenol A - BPA, Octylphenol - OP, Nonylphenol - NP). The tested phenols were evaluated in environmentally relevant concentrations (µg/L) and in single forms and mixture. BPA, OP, and NP did not inhibit the seed germination and root development in A. cepa in their single forms and mixture. However, all single forms of the tested phenols caused cellular and DNA damages in A. cepa, and although these effects persist in the mixtures, the effects were verified at lower levels. These phenols caused acute toxicity to E. foetida after 48 h of exposure and at both conditions evaluated (single forms and mixture); however, unlike A. cepa, in earthworms, mixtures and single forms presented the same level of effects, indicating that interspecies physiological different might influence the mixture toxicity. In summary, our results suggest that BPA, OP, and NP are toxicants to earthworm and cyto-/geno-toxicants to monocotyledonous plants at low concentrations. However, interaction among these phenols reduces the magnitude of their individual effects (antagonistic effect) in the plant test system. Therefore, this study draws attention to the need to raise knowledge about the ecotoxicity of phenolic compounds to help predict their ecological risks and protect non-target terrestrial species.

A test battery for assessing the ecotoxic effects of textile dyes.

The textile dyeing industry is one of the main sectors contributing to environmental pollution, due to the generation of large amounts of wastewater loaded with dyes (ca. 2-50% of the initial amount of dyes used in the dye baths is lost), causing severe impacts on human health and the environment. In this context, an ecotoxicity testing battery was used to assess the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of the textile dyes Direct Black 38 (DB38; azo dye) and Reactive Blue 15 (RB15; copper phthalocyanine dye) on different trophic levels. Thus these dyes were tested using the following assays: Filter paper contact test with earthworms (Eisenia foetida); seed germination and root elongation toxicity test (Cucumis sativus, Lactuca sativa and Lycopersicon esculentum); acute immobilization test (Daphnia magna and Artemia salina); and the Comet assay with the rainbow trout gonad-2 cell fish line (RTG-2) and D. magna. Neither phytotoxicity nor significant effects on the survival of E. foetida were observed after exposure to DB38 and RB15. Both dyes were classified as relatively non-toxic to D. magna (LC50 > 100 mg/L), but DB38 was moderately toxic to A. salina with a LC50 of 20.7 mg/L. DB38 and RB15 induced significant effects on the DNA of D. magna but only DB38 caused direct (alkaline comet assay) and oxidative (hOGG1-modified alkaline comet assay) damage to RTG-2 cells in hormetic responses. Therefore, the present results emphasize that a test battery approach of bioassays representing multiple trophic levels is fundamental in predicting the toxicity of textile dyes, aside from providing the information required to define their safe levels for living organisms in the environment.

The impact of aromatic amines on the environment: risks and damages.

Aromatic amines are a group of chemicals whose ubiquitous presence in the environment is a result of the multitude of sources from which they originate. These compounds are widely used as raw materials or at intermediate stages in the manufacturing of industrial chemicals such as pesticides, medicines, dyestuffs, polymers, surfactants, cosmetics and corrosion inhibitors, especially in dyestuff factories. As with most chemical carcinogens, aromatic amines need to be metabolized into reactive electrophiles in order to exert their carcinogenic effects. This activation typically involves N-oxidation of arylamines to yield N-hydroxyarylamines. Since these amines are potential carcinogenic agents and are discharged into the atmosphere, water and soil, they constitute an important class of environmental pollutants of enormous concern due to the potential for human exposure.

Elderly and drugs: risks and necessity of rational use

In recent decades, the world has undergone a demographic transformation with a rapid growth of the elderly population, resulting in an increased demand for funds to maintain their health and drug consumption. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes occurring in the elderly can interfere directly in the adverse effects of drugs and increase the risk of intoxication. In addition, there are external factors interfering with the pharmacotherapy of the elderly, such as inappropriate use and the lack of access to information. Many therapeutic classes of drugs should be used with caution or avoided in the elderly population, such as anti-inflammatory and some anti-hypertensive drugs, diuretics and digitalis. If not managed carefully, these medicines can affect the safety and quality of life in the elderly. Thus, the aim of this review was to identify drugs that should be used with caution in elderly patients in order to avoid intoxication and/or adverse drug events.

Durante as últimas décadas, o mundo passou por uma transformação demográfica, com um rápido crescimento da população idosa e, portanto, tanto a demanda para a manutenção da saúde deste grupo populacional, quanto o consumo de medicamentos estão aumentando. Ainda, as mudanças farmacocinéticas e farmacodinâmicas que ocorrem em idosos podem interferir diretamente nos efeitos adversos dos medicamentos e aumentar o risco de intoxicação. Além disso, há fatores externos que interferem na farmacoterapia dos idosos, tais como o uso inadequado e a falta de acesso à informação. Existem várias classes terapêuticas de medicamentos que devem ser utilizados com cautela ou evitados na população idosa, tais como antiinflamatórios, alguns anti-hipertensivos, diuréticos, digitálicos entre outros. Estes medicamentos, se não forem utilizados com cuidado, podem afetar a qualidade de vida e a segurança desta população. Assim, este trabalho visa identificar medicamentos que devem ser utilizados com cuidado em pacientes idosos para evitar intoxicações e/ou eventos adversos aos medicamentos.

Evaluation of extracts from Coccoloba mollis using the Salmonella/microsome system and in vivo tests

The common everyday use of medicinal plants is an ancient, and still very widespread practice, whereby the need for studies on their possible toxicity and mutagenic properties. The species Coccoloba mollis has been much used in phytotherapy, mainly in cases involving loss of memory and stress. In order to investigate its genotoxic and mutagenic potential, ethanolic extracts from the leaves and roots underwent Salmonella/microsome assaying (TA98 and TA100 strains, with and without exogenous metabolism - S9), besides comet and micronucleus tests in vivo.There was no significant increase in the number of revertants/plate of Salmonella strains in any of the analyzed root-extract concentrations, although the extract itself was extremely toxic to the Salmonella TA98 strain in the tests carried out with S9 (doses varying from 0.005 to 0.5 µg/plate). On the other hand, the leaf-extract induced mutations in the TA98 strain in the absence of S9 in the highest concentration evaluated, although at very low mutagenic potency (0.004 rev/µg). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant increase in the number of comets and micronuclei, in treatments involving Swiss mice. It was obvious that extracts of Coccoloba mollis, under the described experimental conditions, are not mutagenic.

Risco ambiental da aplicação de éteres de difenilas polibromadas como retardantes de chama / Environmental risks involved with the application of polybrominated diphenyl ethers as flame retardants

Flame retardants are additives of combustible materials, such as plastics, textile, electronic circuitry, wood and paper providing resistance to the combustion process when exposed to fire and high temperature. The main flame retardants used are inorganic chemicals (such as antimony oxides), organic phosphate esters with or without halogens, and chlorinated and brominated organic compounds. The brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are largely used due to its efficiency and low cost. The most used flame retardants are the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), produced inlarge-scale whose degradation is very difficult. Thus, they have been found in many different environmental samples. These observations suggest the current destination of these substances is still devoid of recycling or specific treatment. Despite the increased application in oil polymers, little is known about its impact upon the ecosystem. In this review, we provide an overview about the use and risks related to PBDEs as a recognized toxicants found in industries.

Os retardantes de chama, dentre os quais se destacam os éteres de difenilas polibromadas, são aditivos de materiais destinados a torná-los resistentes ao fogo ou a altas temperaturas, inibindo ou suprimindo o processo de combustão, dentre os quais se destacam os éteres de difenilas polibromadas (PBDEs, do inglês, polibromated diphenyl ethers). Devido a sua produção em grande escala e sua difícil degradação, os PBDEs têm sido um contaminante emergente frequentemente encontrados em diferentes amostras ambientais, demonstrando que o processo produtivo, em especial o destino desse material, requer medidas estratégicas que racionalize seu uso. Apesar da ampla utilização desses aditivos em polímeros (na maioria derivados de petróleo) e tecidos inflamáveis comumente utilizados, pouco se sabe a respeito do impacto dessas substâncias sobre o ecossistema. Nessa revisão, uma relação consistente a respeito do risco ambiental resultante do uso indiscriminado desses aditivos, ainda carentes de regulamentação específica, foi estabelecida com base na ação desses compostos bem como a prevalência de algumas classes, reconhecidamente tóxicas em alguns ambientes.

Alquilfenóis e alquilfenóis etoxilados: uma visão ambiental / Alkylphenols and alkylphenols etoxilates: an environmental view

The alkylphenols (APs) are formed by a phenolic group linked to a carbon chain. These compounds generate the alkylphenols ethoxylates (APEs) are known as surfactantes. They are present in formulations of several products as detergents, pesticides, among others. The most common are the octylphenol etoxylate (OPE) and the nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE). The NPE is considered the most toxic due to the liberation of nonylphenol (NP) after degradation. The most important exposure route for these compounds is the ingestion of contaminated water with the original products and/or their degradation products that are formed loosing the etoxi group. Generally, these compounds persist for more time in the environment and are more toxic than the original products. As these compounds were included in the Water Emerging Contaminants list, this work presents a review about the APs, mainly about their presence in the environment. For that the databases Bireme and Science Direct were applied. NP and octylphenol (OP) are toxic to fish (17-3000 µmg L-1), invertebrates (20-3000 µmg L-1) and algae (27-2500 µmg L-1). Besides that, APs and APEs are endocrine disruptor, interacting with estrogen receptor resulting in the expression of several responses both in vitro and in vivo, including the induction of vitellogenin. APEs also affect the growth of testes, alter normal steroid metabolism and cause alteration in sexuality of fishes. In environmental analysis of APs several extraction techniques have been used, as liquid-liquid and supercritical fluid. The detection and quantificationare best performed by liquid and gas chromatography.

Os alquilfenóis (APs) são substâncias formadas por um grupamento fenólico ligado a uma cadeia carbônica. Apartir destes compostos são gerados os alquilfenóis etoxilados (APEs) que estão presentes em formulações de diversos produtos como detergentes (surfactantes), praguicidas, entre outros. Os mais comuns são o octilfenol etoxilado (OPE) e o nonilfenol etoxilado (NPE), sendo que o NPE é o mais tóxico, pois gera o nonilfenol (NP) após degradação. A forma mais comum de exposição humana é a ingestão de água contaminada pelos produtos inalterados e/ou seus produtos de degradação, formados pela perda do grupo etóxi, geralmente originando produtos recalcitrantes e mais tóxicos que os originais. A importância do estudo destes compostos se tornou clara após a sua inclusão na lista dos Contaminantes Emergentes de Água, aceita internacionalmente. Sendo assim, este trabalho apresenta uma visão geral sobre os APs, com ênfase na contaminação do meio ambiente, utilizando as bases de dados da Bireme e do Science Direct. Nossa pesquisa mostrou que o NP e o octilfenol (OP) são tóxicos para peixes (17-3000 µmg L-1), invertebrados (20-3000 µmg L-1) e algas (27-2500 µmg L-1). Além da toxicidade aguda parta a biota, foi demonstrado na literatura que os APs e APEs são disruptores endócrinos, agindo por meio da ligação com receptores estrogênicos resultando em diversas respostas in vivo e in vitro, incluindo a indução de vitelogenina. Eles também afetam o crescimentodos testículos, o metabolismo normal dos esteróides e sexualidade em peixes. Para análise ambiental de APs são empregadas diversas técnicas de extração, como líquido- líquido e fluido supercrítico e, para detecção e quantificação, cromatografias em fase líquida e gasosa.

Corantes como importante classe de contaminantes ambientais - um estudo de caso / Dyes as important class of environmental contaminants - a case study

As amostras ambientais coletadas na área do Ribeirão dos Cristais, região metropolitana de São Paulo, apresentaram atividade mutagênica sistemática durante os últimos anos. De acordo com estudos já publicados em literatura, essa contaminação estava relacionada ao lançamento de efluentes líquidos de uma indústria de tingimento neste corpo d'água. Essa indústria tinge principalmente nylon e poliéster, utilizando em seus processos azo corantes dispersos, entre outros. Os corantes de um produto comercial preto (BDCP), muito empregado por essa indústria, foram detectados recentemente em amostras ambientais coletadas nesse local e se mostraram pelo menos parcialmente, responsáveis pela mutagenicidade mencionada...

Valores de referência do ácido delta-aminolevulínico na urina de populaçäo da regiäo sul de Minas Gerais, näo ocupacionalmente exposta ao chumbo / Reference values for urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in a lead nonoccupationally exposed population from South Minas Gerais, Brazil

Neste trabalho determinaram-se os valores de referência para o ácido delta-aminolevulínico urinário (`deltaï-ALA U), indicador biológico da exposição humana aos compostos inorgânicos do chumbo, na região Sul de Minas Gerais. O `deltaï-ALA U foi determinado segundo método espectrofotométrico de Tomokuni e Ogata. A população estudada foi constituída de 117 voluntários não-expostos ocupacionalmente ao chumbo, saudáveis, sendo 56 homens e 64 mulheres, de idades entre 18 e 60 anos, Os valores de referência do `deltaï-ALA U, expressos em mg/g de creatinina, foram: valor médio ñ desvio padrão de 1,51 ñ 0,53; mediana de 1,40; intervalo de confiança 95 por cento entre 1,41 e 1,61; valor de referência superior de 2,59; percentil 95 por cento de 2,45...