Metals, trace elements and ecotoxicity in sediments of the Cubatão River, Brazil

The Cubatão River is one of the most important waterways of the coast of São Paulo. The continuous discharge of domestic and industrial effluents into the river and its tributaries resulted in loss of water quality across the system. Industrial and domestic landfills are also located around the studied area. The purpose of this study was to assess two aspects of sediments from the river and two of its tributaries (Perequê and Pilões Rivers): presence of trace elements and toxic metals, and ecotoxicity. Four sampling surveys were conducted from 2010 to 2011 on six different sites (here named P0, P2, P4, P5, P7 and P8). Ecotoxicity was assessed by exposing Hyalella azteca to the collected sediments. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF AAS and CV AAS) techniques were applied for measuring concentration of metals and trace elements. The latter enabled quantification of Cd, Pb and Hg, while the former enabled quantification of a wide range of metals and trace elements. As, Cr and Zn concentrations obtained by INAA as well as AAS results were compared to threshold effect levels (TEL) and probable effect levels (PEL), the sediment quality guidelines proposed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) for evaluating the potential effects on aquatic organisms. Cd and Hg values did not exceed TEL at the most of samples. Pb exceeded TEL at only one site campaign. As, Cr and Zn values exceeded TEL in most of sampling sites, with P2 and P4 showing the highest concentrations. Enrichment Factor (EF) and Geoaccumulation Index (IGeo) were calculated for the elements determined by INAA using North American Shale Composite (NASC) and regional background values. In short, As, Br, Cr, Hf, Pb, Sb and Zn were the elements found in concerning amounts, especially As, Br, Cr and Zn. Toxicity results revealed toxic effects on sediments from P2 and P5 (mortality > 50%). Body size analysis demonstrated negative effects at P4 (length smaller than 2,500.00 μm). Data crossing analyses indicate As and Br as main possible contributors to high toxicity levels

Toxicity Removal of Pharmaceuticals Mixtures through Electron Beam Irradiation

Contamination of the aquatic environment by pharmaceuticals is becoming a global phenomenon of growing concern. Pharmaceuticals can be only partially metabolized during therapeutic use, resulting in the excretion and release of residual fractions into sewage, unaltered or in the form of metabolites they may remain active in sewage treatment facilities for a long time. Many studies have shown that wastewater treatment plants are not designed to eliminate these compounds, as such the main source of drug residues in the aquatic environment. Due to their frequency and detection in the environment, persistence and toxicity, the most studied pharmaceutical groups are antibiotics, psychiatric drugs, hormones, analgesics and anti-inflammatory, β-blockers, and antidiabetic drugs. Advanced Oxidative Processes (AOPs) have been applied as an alternative or complement to conventional sewage treatment processes, aiming the degradation and removal of toxic pollutants. Electron beam irradiation (EBI) is considered a clean process that offers an environmentally friendly alternative to degrade pollutants in the aquatic environment. This technology has been demonstrated effective for removal of multiclass pharmaceutical residues present in wastewater by using low doses (2.5-5.0 kGy). In this present study, we focused on toxicity removal of three different tertiary mixtures of pharmaceuticals, which showed toxicity removal efficiency around 80% for the mixture of Propranolol, Fluoxetine and Diclofenac; 75% for the mixture of  Propranolol, Fluoxetine and Sulfadiazine; and 30% for the mixture of Acetylsalicylic acid, Fluoxetine and Metformin.

Ecotoxicological approach of surfactants treated by ionizing radiation

Removing surfactants from liquid effluents has been a fundamental issue since they are found in several industrial effluents, hospitals, restaurants, and even homes. When disposed into aquatic environmental, surfactants can implicate in significant changes, including several adverse effects to aquatic organisms. The present study was developed to assess the ecotoxicological effects of surfactants (anionic and nonionic) to aquatic organisms Vibrio fischeri bacteria, Daphnia similis crustacean. The ionizing radiation (Electron Beam Irradiation - EBI) was applied as a possible technology for the treatment of these contaminants in order to reduce acute toxic effects. The obtained data showed that the surfactants were toxic for both organisms, and the nonionic were more toxic than anionic. EB irradiation reduced surfactants toxicity by 40% acute toxic effects for nonionic surfactant and more than 70% for anionic, for both exposed organisms classes

Combined application of gamma radiation, cleaning and chemical sanitizers in decontamination of vehicle air conditioning filters

This work aimed to analyze the fungal contamination of air-conditioning filter waste (n=15) as an indicator of Quality Air Indoor from different car models in São Paulo city in São Paulo State, Brazil, during the period from October 2018 to July 2019. Three different treatments were used for the decontamination of car air conditioning filters, such as mechanical vacuum cleaning (I), vacuum cleaning and use of sanitizing product (II), and sanitizing product associated with radiation treatment at a dose of 17 kGy (III). After the treatments, microbiological analyses were performed and samples were plated in Petri dishes containing Sabouraud agar transferred by Swabs, and incubated for 7 days at 25 °C. The Petri dishes were stored in a standard Biochemical Oxygen Demand incubator, for the growth of fungal cultures. After incubation, the fungal cultures were evaluated, and the fungal counting was expressed in unit-forming colonies (UFC) and frequency in samples (%). The fungi were examined by lactophenol blue solution staining for microscopy. All samples of treatment I and II were contaminated with various fungal genera and high bioburden, namely (treatment I) Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Cladosporium spp., Fusarium spp., Mucor spp., Nigrospora spp., Not Sporulated Fungi (NSF), Penicillium spp., Rhizopus spp., Rhodotorula spp., Trichoderma spp. and yeasts. Treatment II showed Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, Cladosporium spp., Mucor spp., NSF, Penicillium spp., Phoma spp., Rhizopus spp., Rhodotorula spp., Trichoderma spp., and yeasts. Treatment III presented NSF and yeasts, with 80% of material decontamination

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of irradiated fluoxetine aqueous samples

The last decade witnessed the drastic increase in the use of antidepressant drugs, being fluoxetine the most prescribed worldwide. Conventional wastewater treatment is inefficient in removing fluoxetine and its accumulation in water bodies and water living organism is inevitable. Among several methods for contaminant removal from wastewater, electron beam irradiation is an efficient and green technology. This work presents the characterization of aqueous fluoxetine samples before and after irradiation. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used to identify the original compound and its irradiation products. Results indicate a drastic reduction in fluoxetine presence after the irradiation process. Radiolysis pathways were proposed based on mass fragments identification

Toxicidade do efluente têxtil com corante reactive blue 21 submetido à irradiação por feixe de elétrons / Toxicity of reactive blue 21 dye textile effluent subjected to electron beam irradiation

O setor têxtil se destaca na economia de muitos países e por questões ambientais relacionadas à sua cadeia produtiva. A etapa de beneficiamento secundário, em especial o processo de tingimento, além de consumir muita água, utiliza inúmeros insumos químicos, gerando efluentes com potencial tóxico e desequilíbrio às condições de vida do corpo receptor. Diante disso, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a toxicidade do efluente têxtil, com o corante Reactive Blue 21, antes e após tratamento por irradiação com feixe de elétrons. O efluente do tingimento otimizado com o corante Reactive Blue 21 foi submetido à irradiação por feixe de elétrons e, posteriormente, avaliado e comparado à amostra sem tratamento, em relação a sua toxicidade aguda com os organismos Daphnia similis e Vibrio fischeri. Os resultados apontaram maior sensibilidade da bactéria luminescente Vibrio fischeri ao efluente, com um valor de CE50 de 0,43% para a amostra sem tratamento e de 8,89%. Já o microcrustáceo Daphnia similis, apresentou para a amostra sem tratamento 4,79% e 12,64% de CE50.O processo de tratamento por irradiação se mostrou eficaz para a redução da toxicidade no efluente analisado, com uma eficácia de mais de 60% no tratamento para ambos os organismos

Degradation and Toxicity of Amoxicillin After Electron Beam Irradiation

A recent and growing concern in environmental studies is the presence of antibiotics in wastewater, which contributes to antimicrobial resistance building. Amoxicillin, according to the World Health Organization, is one of the most consumed antibiotics worldwide, for being a first line therapy for common infections. Among several drug degradation methodologies, electron beam irradiation (EBI) is presented as an efficient and green treatment. This work presents data on amoxicillin degradation via EBI. Ecotoxicity essays were performed employing Vibrio fischeri, carbon removal efficiency was evaluated by TOC and degradation rate by LC/MS-MS. Chromatographic results indicate a 97.9% drug concentration reduction after 0.75 kGy; TOC results indicate 10% carbon removal at 3.0 kGy; toxicity assays indicate 80% in removal of toxicity at 0.75 kGy and a decrease in efficiency with higher doses. In conclusion, results indicate the 0.75 kGy as most effective for drug removal employing EBI

Toxicological Response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Acetylsalicylic Acid Aqueous Solution Treated by Electron Beam Irradiation

Pharmaceuticals have drawn attention due to the potential of causing negative impacts on the population and ecosystems at ecological relevant concentrations. Among these contaminants, acetylsalicylic acid is a drug widely used in human medicine as an analgesic, antipyretic and in actively preventing blood platelet aggregation, which has been introduced into the environment continuously. Several technologies have been proposed for the removal of contaminants. Electron beam irradiation (EBI) has been applied as an alternative and clean technology for pollutant removal. Nevertheless, after any type of treatment there may occur the formation of more toxic byproducts, which may be detected by biological assays. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast consists in simple eukaryotic model, widely used for the assessment of toxic effects on human cells and tissues. This work aims the toxicity assessment of treated acetylsalicylic aqueous solutions by EBI employing Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Toxicity assays were performed with S. cerevisiae and the results were compared to others aquatic organisms (Vibrio fischeri bioluminescent bacteria and Daphnia similis microcrustacean). The results showed low sensibility to the yeast when exposed to the anti-inflammatory, demonstrating an EC5030min of 815 mg L-1, when compared with the bioluminescent bacteria (EC5015min = 38.48 mg L-1) and the microcrustacean (EC5048h = 86.05 mg L-1). Due to low acute toxicity, chronic assays were also performed with D. similis, demonstrating a NOEC14days of 2.5 mg L-1. Based on these results, toxicity data from chronic assays was utilized for PNEC estimation, and the highest concentration detected in Brazilian surface water was used to evaluate the worst-case scenario. The calculated risk quotient indicated a possible risk of acetylsalicylic acid to aquatic biota. After EBI treatment, increase in toxicity have been noted for all the evaluated organisms, indicating sensibility of the evaluated organism.  This work demonstrated the feasibility of employing toxicity assays with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast

Reactive Blue 21 exhaustion degree investigated using the surface response methodology as an auxiliary tool in cotton dyeing

Response surface methodology was used to investigate the influences of sodium chloride (NaCl), soda ash (Na2CO3), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations on cotton and the degree of exhaustion (D-E) of Reactive Blue 21 dyestuff (RB21), as well as to optimize dyeing conditions. A 2(3) central composite and rotational design was used as a support to carry out 17 dyeings with RB21 on a 100% knitted cotton substrate. NaCl, Na2CO3, and NaOH concentrations were used as factors. Responses comprised color strength (K S-1) and the D-E. The results indicate that a square model was the best fit. This model was able to increase both K S-1 and D-E values, with the colorfastness to water and rubbing carried out with supplier's formulation recipe. This study demonstrates that the use of the response surface methodology in color matching can contribute to the textile industry in the prediction or assessment of formulations for a specific colorCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQsem informaçã

Electron beam irradiation of pharmaceuticals aiming at toxicity reduction: a binary mixture of fluoxetine and propranolol

Significant evidence is available in the literature justifying the search for treatment technologies or process combinations to improve the decomposition of dozens of pharmaceuticals in wastewater. Conventional processing techniques are insufficient in removal of the pharmaceuticals, for having resistant waste and low biodegradability. Electron beam irradiation (EBI) may play an important role in this context, and relatively low doses have been reported for such purposes. The objective of this study was to apply the process of irradiation with electron beam in order to reduce the toxic effects of fluoxetine, propranolol, and a binary mixture of these pharmaceuticals in aqueous solution. Ecotoxicological tests conducted in two model organisms, Daphnia similis microcrustacean, and Vibrio fischeri bacterium. It was observed that D. similis was more sensitive to the pharmaceuticals and binary mixture, when compared to V. fischeri. When EBI was applied, all doses showed significant reduction of toxicity for D. similis, and the opposite for V. fischeri, when only 5.0 kGy showed a significant reduced of toxicity for the pharmaceuticals and binary mixture. 5.0 kGy was the best removal efficiency for toxicity, approximately 80% for D. similis and 20% for V. fischeri