RESUMO
The chemical components of plastic wastes have made their disposal a major economic, social, and environmental problem worldwide. This study evaluated the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of marine plastic debris on the beaches of Concepción Bay, Central Chile, taken during three periods (spring, summer, and winter). An integrated approach was used, including chemical and toxicological data, using the Microtox® test with Vibrio fischeri and SOS chromotest with Escherichia coli and concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The results presented here exclusively include the novel data obtained from the winter campaign, revealing high concentrations of PBDEs (238 ± 521 ng g-1). In addition, the genotoxicity and acute toxicity tests were sensitive for most of the samples studied. This investigation is the first attempt to analyse the toxicity of plastic debris in coastal areas along the Chilean coast.
Assuntos
Hidrocarbonetos Clorados , Praguicidas , Bifenilos Policlorados , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Plásticos/toxicidade , Poluentes Orgânicos Persistentes , Chile , Éteres Difenil Halogenados/toxicidade , Éteres Difenil Halogenados/análise , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Bifenilos Policlorados/toxicidade , Bifenilos Policlorados/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Clorados/toxicidade , Hidrocarbonetos Clorados/análise , Praguicidas/toxicidade , Praguicidas/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidade , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análiseRESUMO
Several studies have shown the issue of effluent discharges as a source of contamination into waterways. Still, the impact of chemical pollutants on sediment is less well understood, especially from an ecotoxicological perspective, even though it is known that chemicals from industrial processes are frequently released into river systems. Therefore, here we compared water-sediment samples collected in high-anthropogenic urban area and low-anthropogenic peri-urban area. We have used physicochemical parameters, genotoxicity assay, bioindication and acute and surviving chronic toxicity tests - in an integrated biological assessment. Results suggest no acute toxicity related to exposure to samples from both areas. Still, samples collected in the high-anthropogenic urban area were associated with chronic toxicity effects in D. magna. Heavy metals Pb, Cu, and Cr were found in all samples. Even having all averages below the allowed level as determined by CONAMA (Resolution 420-Class 2), the Water Quality Index (WQI) score showed us that samples from high-anthropogenic sites were identified as "Poor," and samples from low-anthropogenic sites were identified as "Good." Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Odonata, which are very sensitive organisms, were largely absent in high-anthropogenic areas, showing that it is likely to be associated with WQI. Therefore, careful consideration should be applied to monitoring effluent discharges using predictive tests, considering the environmental risks of sediment contamination and its consequences on the total environment.
Assuntos
Metais Pesados , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Ecotoxicologia , Monitoramento Ambiental , Sedimentos Geológicos/química , Metais Pesados/análise , Metais Pesados/toxicidade , Medição de Risco , Rios/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidadeRESUMO
Lomefloxacin (LOM) is a synthetic antimicrobial from the fluoroquinolone family (FQ) used as a veterinary and human drug. Once in the environment, LOM may pose a risk to aquatic and terrestrial microorganisms due to its antimicrobial activity. This study evaluated the effect of ozonation of LOM (500 µg L-1), the residual antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and acute toxicity against Vibrio fischeri. In addition, degradation products were investigated by UHPLC-MS/MS and proposed. Ozonation was carried out varying the applied ozone dose from 0 to 54.0 mg L-1 O3 and pH values of 3, 7, and 11. Ozonation was most efficient at pH 11 and led to 92.8% abatement of LOM in a 9-min reaction time (54.0 mg L-1 O3 applied ozone dose). Ozonation at pH 3 was able to degrade 80.4% of LOM. At pH 7, 74.3% of LOM was degraded. Although the LOM concentration and the antimicrobial activity of the solution dropped as ozone dose increased (antimicrobial activity reduction of 95% at pH 11), toxicity to V. fischeri increased for pH 7 and 11 (i.e., 65% at pH 7 and 75% at pH 11). The reduction in antimicrobial activity may be related to the oxidation of piperazinyl and the quinolone moiety. The formation of intermediates depended on the oxidant (hydroxyl radicals or/and molecular O3) that acted the most in the process.
Assuntos
Fluoroquinolonas/farmacologia , Fluoroquinolonas/toxicidade , Ozônio/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/farmacologia , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidade , Aliivibrio fischeri/efeitos dos fármacos , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/toxicidade , Fluoroquinolonas/química , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Radical Hidroxila/química , Oxirredução , Soluções , Poluentes Químicos da Água/químicaRESUMO
Sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) is an antimicrobial of the sulfonamides class. Usually employed in veterinary medicine, this contaminant of emerging concern has been found in superficial and groundwater and its consequences for the environment and human health are not completely known. In this study, SQX (C0 = 500 µg L-1, 1 L) degradation by an ozonation process at pH 3, 7, and 11 was evaluated. Ozonation was effective in degrading SQX: efficiency exceeding 99% was obtained applying an ozone dose of 2.8 mg L-1 at pH 3. Assays were performed according to a 22 design of experiments (DOE) with star points and three central points for statistical validity. Minimum and maximum levels were set at 3 and 11 for pH, and 0 and 11.5 mg L-1 for applied ozone dose. There was no significant interaction between these variables, and the pH value played the most important role in terms of contaminant degradation. In relation to toxicity, samples ozonated at pH 3 did not inhibit the luminescence of the bacteria, even though different intermediates were formed and identified by mass spectra. At pH 7, inhibition of luminescence remained almost constant (at around 30%) according to ozonation time or ozone dose. However, the hydroxyl radical, the major oxidant at pH 11, was responsible for the formation of toxic intermediates.
Assuntos
Ozônio , Sulfaquinoxalina , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Radical Hidroxila , Oxirredução , Poluentes Químicos da ÁguaRESUMO
Ionic liquids (ILs) are often claimed to be "environmentally friendly" compounds however, the knowledge of their potential toxicity towards different organisms and trophic levels is still limited, in particular when protic ionic liquids (PILs) are addressed. This study aims to evaluate the toxicity against various microorganisms and the biodegradability of four PILs namely, N-methyl-2-hydroxyethylammonium acetate, m-2-HEAA; N-methyl-2-hydroxyethylammonium propionate, m-2-HEAPr; N-methyl-2-hydroxyethylammonium butyrate, m-2-HEAB; and N-methyl-2-hydroxyethylammonium pentanoate, m-2-HEAP. The antimicrobial activity was determined against the two bacteria, Sthaplylococcus aureus ATCC-6533 and Escherichia coli CCT-0355; the yeast Candida albicans ATCC-76645; and the fungi Fusarium sp. LM03. The toxicity of all PILs was tested against the aquatic luminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri using the Microtox(®) test. The impact of the PILs was also studied regarding their effect on lettuce seeds (Lactuta sativa). The biodegradability of these PILs was evaluated using the ratio between the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and the chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results show that, in general, the elongation of the alkyl chain tends to increase the negative impact of the PILs towards the organisms and biological systems under study. According to these results, m-2-HEAA and m-2-HEAP are the less and most toxic PILs studied in this work, respectively. Additionally, all the PILs have demonstrated low biodegradability.
Assuntos
Líquidos Iônicos/toxicidade , Compostos de Amônio Quaternário/toxicidade , Aliivibrio fischeri/efeitos dos fármacos , Aliivibrio fischeri/metabolismo , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/metabolismo , Antibacterianos/toxicidade , Antifúngicos/química , Antifúngicos/metabolismo , Antifúngicos/toxicidade , Biodegradação Ambiental , Análise da Demanda Biológica de Oxigênio , Candida albicans/efeitos dos fármacos , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Fusarium/efeitos dos fármacos , Líquidos Iônicos/química , Líquidos Iônicos/metabolismo , Lactuca/efeitos dos fármacos , Lactuca/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Luminescência , Compostos de Amônio Quaternário/química , Compostos de Amônio Quaternário/metabolismo , Staphylococcus aureus/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Bioluminescent bacteria are widespread in natural environments. Over the years, many researchers have been studying the physiology, biochemistry and genetic control of bacterial bioluminescence. These discoveries have revolutionized the area of Environmental Microbiology through the use of luminescent genes as biosensors for environmental studies. This paper will review the chronology of scientific discoveries on bacterial bioluminescence and the current applications of bioluminescence in environmental studies, with special emphasis on the Microtox toxicity bioassay. Also, the general ecological significance of bioluminescence will be addressed.
Bactérias que emitem bioluminescência são amplamente distribuídas em ambientes naturais. Ao longo dos anos vários pesquisadores vêm estudando a fisiologia, bioquímica e controle genético da bioluminescência. Essas descobertas têm revolucionado a Área de Microbiologia Ambiental através da utilização dos genes lux como biosensores em estudos ambientais. Esta revisão examinará a cronologia de descobertas científicas da bioluminescência bacteriana e as aplicações atuais em estudos ambientais, salientando a utilização do teste de toxicidade Microtox. A significância ecológica da bioluminescência será também examinada.