RESUMO
Fish constitutes the main protein source for the Amazonian population. However, the impact of different anthropogenic activities on trace element and metal accumulation in fish and their risks for human health at a regional scale remain largely unexplored. Here we assessed exposure levels of 10 trace elements and metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, and Hg) in 56 samples belonging to 11 different species of fish from the Brazilian Amazon. We studied the relationship between exposure levels, fish origin, and fish feeding habits, and assessed toxicological and carcinogenic risks for the Amazonian population. No significant correlation was found between sampling site and exposure levels to the studied elements, but a significant difference was found between the accumulation of some metals and the position of the fish species in the food chain. The concentrations of Cr and Hg in fish flesh were found to exceed the Brazilian limits for human consumption. This study shows that current fish consumption patterns can lead to estimated daily intakes of Hg, As and Cr that exceed the oral reference dose, thus posing a toxicological concern. Furthermore, carcinogenic risks may be expected due to the continued exposure to Cr and As. The results of this study show that the consumption of wild caught fish in the Amazon region should be controlled. Moreover, continued monitoring of trace element and metal contamination in fish and on the health of the Amazonian population is recommended, particularly for riverine and indigenous communities.
Assuntos
Peixes , Contaminação de Alimentos , Metais , Oligoelementos , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Animais , Brasil , Humanos , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Oligoelementos/análise , Contaminação de Alimentos/análise , Medição de Risco , Metais/análise , Monitoramento AmbientalRESUMO
The use of pesticides in households and peri-urban areas of the Amazon has increased notably during the last years. Yet, the presence of these contaminants in Amazonian freshwater ecosystems remains unexplored. Here, we assessed the exposure to 18 pesticides and 5 transformation products in the Amazon River and in the urban streams of Manaus, Santarém, Macapá, and Belém (Brazil). Pesticide concentrations were analyzed by liquid and gas chromatography methods. Ecological risks were assessed following a two-tiered approach. First, hazard quotients and an overall hazard index were calculated using toxicity data for standard test species of primary producers, invertebrates, and fish. Second, the pesticides showing moderate-to-high ecological risks in the first tier were evaluated using Species Sensitivity Distributions (SSDs). Our study shows that pesticides are widespread in urban and peri-urban areas of the Brazilian Amazon. The frequency of detection was higher in urban streams than in the Amazon River, with some samples taken in Manaus, Santarém, and Belém containing up to 8 compounds. Most pesticides were measured at relatively low concentrations (ng L-1), except for malathion, carbendazim and the bulk concentration of chlorpyrifos, which were monitored at concentrations above 100 ng L-1. Based on the first-tier assessment, we found moderate-to-high risks for freshwater invertebrates for malathion, chlorpyrifos, and chlorpyrifos-methyl, and moderate risks for malathion to fish. The risk assessment performed with SSDs indicated high risks of malathion and chlorpyrifos-methyl in urban areas, with up to 15% and 5% of invertebrate species potentially affected, respectively. The bulk concentrations of chlorpyrifos resulted in high risks in some urban areas (14-22% of species affected) and in areas of the main river (32-44%) impacted by agriculture. We conclude that pesticide residues may contribute to a biodiversity impact in the Amazon and should be further monitored in urban and peri-urban areas, particularly after heavy rainfall events.
Assuntos
Praguicidas , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Animais , Brasil , Ecossistema , Monitoramento Ambiental , Praguicidas/análise , Praguicidas/toxicidade , Medição de Risco , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidadeRESUMO
Only a limited number of households in the Amazon are served by sewage collection or treatment facilities, suggesting that there might be a significant emission of pharmaceuticals and other wastewater contaminants into freshwater ecosystems. In this work, we performed a wide-scope screening to assess the occurrence of pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and their metabolites in freshwater ecosystems of the Brazilian Amazon. Our study included 40 samples taken along the Amazon River, in three of its major tributaries, and in small tributaries crossing four important urban areas (Manaus, Santarém, Macapá, Belém). More than 900 compounds were investigated making use of target and suspect screening approaches, based on liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry with ion mobility separation. Empirical collision-cross section (CCS) values were used to help and confirm identifications in target screening, while in the suspect screening approach CCS values were predicted using Artificial Neural Networks to increase the confidence of the tentative identification. In this way, 51 compounds and metabolites were identified. The highest prevalence was found in streams crossing the urban areas of Manaus, Macapá and Belém, with some samples containing up to 30 - 40 compounds, while samples taken in Santarém showed a lower number (8 - 11), and the samples taken in the main course of the Amazon River and its tributaries contained between 1 and 7 compounds. Most compounds identified in areas with significant urban impact belonged to the analgesics and antihypertensive categories, followed by stimulants and antibiotics. Compounds such as caffeine, cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine, and cotinine (the metabolite of nicotine), were also detected in areas with relatively low anthropogenic impact and showed the highest total prevalence. This study supports the need to improve the sanitation system of urban areas in the Brazilian Amazon and the development of follow-up studies aimed at quantifying exposure levels and risks for Amazonian freshwater biodiversity.
Assuntos
Drogas Ilícitas , Preparações Farmacêuticas , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Brasil , Ecossistema , Monitoramento Ambiental , Rios , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análiseRESUMO
The dyes Auramine and Auramine O are used in several industrial products, despite the scarce information regarding their ecotoxicity. The aim of the present study was to assess the acute and chronic toxicity of both dyes to aquatic organisms from different trophic levels (Raphidocelis subcapitata, Daphnia similis, Hydra attenuata, and Danio rerio) and calculate their predicted non-effect concentrations (PNEC). Auramine and Auramine O induced toxicity to all selected test organisms with L(E)C50 values ranging from 300 to 4800 ug/L. Both dyes induced inhibition in the growth rate of exposed algae, negatively affecting the reproduction of D. similis and induced deformities in H. attenuata (clubbed tentacles and shortened tentacles) and D. rerio (edemas, tail malformation and delay in yolk sac absorption). PNEC values of 0.92 µg/L and 4.0 µg/L were obtained for Auramine and Auramine O, respectively, based on results of the most sensitive test system (algae). Test results were analyzed using the Criteria of Reporting and Evaluating Ecotoxicity Data (CRED), confirming their reliability and relevance. Thus, PNEC values can be used in future risk assessments of those substances in freshwater systems.
Assuntos
Organismos Aquáticos , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Animais , Benzofenoneídio , Corantes , Daphnia , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidadeRESUMO
Glyphosate (GLY) is the active ingredient of several herbicide formulations widely used to control weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural areas. Due to the intensive use of GLY-based herbicides and their direct application on soils, some of their components, including the active ingredient, may reach the aquatic environment through direct run-off and leaching. The present study assessed the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of the GLY-based formulation Atanor 48 (ATN) and its major constituents GLY, surfactant polyethoxylated tallow amine (POEA), as well as the main metabolite of GLY aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) on non-target aquatic organisms. The toxic effects of these chemicals were evaluated in the fish embryo acute toxicity test with zebrafish (Danio rerio), while genotoxic effects were investigated in the comet assays with cells from zebrafish larvae and rainbow trout gonad-2 (RTG-2). GLY and AMPA caused no acute toxic effect, while ATN and POEA induced significant lethal effects in zebrafish (LC50-96 h 76.50 mg/L and 5.49 mg/L, respectively). All compounds were genotoxic in comet experiments with zebrafish larvae (LOEC 1.7 mg/L for GLY, ATN, AMPA and 0.4 mg/L for POEA). Unlike in vivo, only POEA induced DNA damage in RTG-2 cells (LOEC 1.6 mg/L), suggesting that it is a direct acting genotoxic agent. In summary, these data indicate that the lethal effects on zebrafish early-life stages can be ranked in the following order from most to least toxic: surfactant POEA > formulation ATN > active ingredient GLY ≈ metabolite AMPA. Genotoxic effects were observed in both RTG-2 cells (only POEA) and zebrafish (all test compounds) with the lowest tested concentrations. Therefore, it is important to evaluate different toxicological endpoints as well as use different non-target organisms to predict the hazards of GLY-based formulations and their components and breakdown product to aquatic biota.
Assuntos
Organismos Aquáticos/efeitos dos fármacos , Glicina/análogos & derivados , Herbicidas/toxicidade , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidade , Ácido alfa-Amino-3-hidroxi-5-metil-4-isoxazol Propiônico/toxicidade , Aminas/toxicidade , Animais , Ensaio Cometa/métodos , Dano ao DNA/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Glicina/toxicidade , Larva/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Mutagênicos/toxicidade , Oncorhynchus mykiss , Compostos Organofosforados/toxicidade , Peixe-Zebra , GlifosatoRESUMO
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive concoction prepared from the plants Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis which are used ancestrally by Amazonian Indian populations and more recently, by Christian religious groups in Brazil and other countries. The aims of the present study were to identify the effects of ayahuasca on zebrafish embryo development and neurobehavior. Toxicity and developmental endpoints for zebrafish embryos were assessed from 0 to 1000â¯mg/L over 96â¯h of exposure. The effects on locomotor activity of zebrafish larvae were assessed using a video tracking system (ZebraBox) from 0 to 20â¯mg/L and after 120 and 144â¯h of exposure. The LC50 of ayahuasca in zebrafish was determined as 236.3â¯mg/L. Ayahuasca exposure caused significant developmental anomalies in zebrafish embryos, mainly at the highest concentration tested, including hatching delay, loss of equilibrium, edema and the accumulation of red blood cells. Embryo behavior was also significantly affected, with decreased locomotor activity at the highest concentration tested. These results are in accordance with data obtained in mammal studies highlighting the possible risks of uncontrolled use of ayahuasca. Further research employing more specific behavior analysis could provide additional data on both therapeutic benefits and possible toxicological risk of ayahuasca.
Assuntos
Banisteriopsis/química , Locomoção/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Peixe-Zebra/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Banisteriopsis/metabolismo , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Embrião não Mamífero/efeitos dos fármacos , Desenvolvimento Embrionário/efeitos dos fármacos , Eritrócitos/citologia , Eritrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Larva/efeitos dos fármacos , Estágios do Ciclo de Vida/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/químicaRESUMO
Amoxicillin (AMX) is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics around the world to treat and prevent several diseases in both human and veterinary medicine. Incomplete removal of AMX during wastewater treatment contributes to its presence in water bodies and drinking water. AMX is an emerging contaminant since its impact on the environment and human health remains uncertain. This contribution was aimed to evaluate the electrochemical oxidation (EO) of AMX using different anodes in tap water, NaCl or Na2SO4 solutions and to evaluate the potential toxicity of remaining AMX and its by-products on zebrafish early-life stages. Chemical intermediates generated after EO were determined by mass spectrometry and their resulting antimicrobial activity was evaluated. AMX did not induce significant mortality in zebrafish during extended exposure but affected zebrafish development (increased body length) from 6.25â¯mg/L to 25â¯mg/L and inhibited enzymatic biomarkers. Carbon modified with titanium oxide (TiO2@C) anode achieved complete AMX removal in just a few minutes and efficiency of the supported electrolytes occurred in the following order: 0.1â¯M NaClâ¯>â¯0.1â¯M Na2SO4â¯>â¯0.01â¯M NaClâ¯>â¯tap water. The order of potential toxicity to zebrafish early life-stages related to lethal and sublethal effects was as follows: 0.1â¯M Na2SO4 > 0.1â¯M NaCl >0.01â¯M NaClâ¯=â¯tap water. Additionally, the EO of AMX using TiO2@C electrode with 0.01â¯M NaCl was able to inhibit the antimicrobial activity of AMX, reducing the possibility of developing bacterial resistance.
Assuntos
Amoxicilina/farmacocinética , Anti-Infecciosos/farmacocinética , Eletroquímica , Amoxicilina/toxicidade , Animais , Catalase/metabolismo , Embrião não Mamífero/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Glutationa Transferase/metabolismo , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Inativação Metabólica , L-Lactato Desidrogenase/metabolismo , Masculino , Espectrometria de Massas , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Oxirredução , Soluções , Análise de Sobrevida , Temperatura , Testes de Toxicidade Aguda , Peixe-Zebra/embriologiaRESUMO
Scientific evidences have highlighted 5-(1-(3-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2H-tetrazole (LQFM021) as a promising anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antinociceptive agent due to its effects on peripheral opioid receptors associated with activation of the nitric oxide/cGMP/KATP pathway. Despite these important pharmacological findings, toxicity data of LQFM021 are scarce. Thus, this study investigated the in vitro genotoxicity of LQFM021 through cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (OECD Nº 487/2014). Moreover, zebrafish model was used to assess the embryotoxicity potential of LQFM021 using fish embryo toxicity test (OECD Nº 236/2013) with extended exposure to evaluate subchronic larval development. In vivo subchronic toxicity of LQFM021 in rats (OECD Nº 407/2008) was also conducted. This compound at the lower concentrations tested (3.1 and 31 µg/mL) did not promote changes in micronuclei frequency in HepG2 cells. However, in the higher concentrations of LQFM021 (310 and 620 µg/mL) triggered a significant increase of micronucleated HepG2 cells, showing an alert signal of potential genotoxicity. Regarding the oral treatment of rats with LQFM021 (62.5, 125 or 250 mg/kg) for 28 days, the main findings showed that LQFM021 promoted renal and liver changes in a dose-dependent manner, being irreversible damage for kidneys while liver tissue showed a recovery after 14 days post treatment. Regarding embryotoxicity, although the lower concentrations used did not show toxicity, the concentration of LQFM021 (39.8 and 100 mg/L) promoted malformations in zebrafish embryo-larvae stage, in especial cardiac tissue changes. In conclusion, anti-inflammatory compound LQFM021 seems to have some limiting factors as a new therapeutic option to be used orally and in high repeated doses, related to those found in the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios/toxicidade , Mutagênicos/toxicidade , Pirazóis/toxicidade , Tetrazóis/toxicidade , Animais , Embrião não Mamífero/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Testes de Mutagenicidade , Ratos Wistar , Peixe-ZebraRESUMO
Glyphosate-based herbicides are the most commonly used worldwide because they are effective and relatively nontoxic to nontarget species. Unlimited and uncontrolled use of such pesticides can have serious consequences for human health and ecological balance. The present study evaluated the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of 2 glyphosate-based formulations, Roundup Original (Roundup) and Glyphosate AKB 480 (AKB), on different organisms: cucumber (Cucumis sativus), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seeds, and microcrustacean Artemia salina and zebrafish (Danio rerio) early life stages. For the germination endpoint, only L. esculentum presented significant sensitivity to AKB and L. sativa to Roundup, whereas both formulations significantly inhibited the root growth of all species tested. Both AKB and Roundup induced significant toxicity to A. salina; both are classified as category 3, which indicates a hazard for the aquatic environment, according to criteria of the Globally Harmonized Classification System. However, Roundup was more toxic than AKB, with 48-h median lethal concentration (LC50) values of 14.19 mg/L and 37.53 mg/L, respectively. For the embryo-larval toxicity test, Roundup proved more toxic than AKB for the mortality endpoint (96-h LC50 values of 10.17 mg/L and 27.13 mg/L, respectively), whereas for the hatching parameter, AKB was more toxic than Roundup. No significant genotoxicity to zebrafish larvae was found. We concluded that AKB and Roundup glyphosate-based formulations are phytotoxic and induce toxic effects in nontarget organisms such as A. salina and zebrafish early life stages. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1755-1763. © 2016 SETAC.