Search

Fungicides are specifically used for controlling fungal infections. Strobilurins, a class of fungicides originating from the mushroom Strobilurus tenacellus, act on the fungal mitochondrial respiratory chain, interrupting the ATP cycle and causing oxidative stress. Although strobilurins are little soluble in water, they have been detected in water samples (such as rainwater and drinking water), indoor dust, and sediments, and they can bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms. Strobilurins are usually absorbed orally and are mainly eliminated via the bile/fecal route and urine, but information about their metabolites is lacking. Strobilurins have low mammalian toxicity; however, they exert severe toxic effects on aquatic organisms. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are the main mechanisms related to the genotoxic damage elicited by toxic compounds, such as strobilurins. These mechanisms alter genes and cause other dysfunctions, including hormonal, cardiac, neurological, and immunological impairment. Despite limitations, we have been able to compile literature information about strobilurins. Many studies have dealt with their toxic effects, but further investigations are needed to clarify their cellular and underlying mechanisms, which will help to find ways to minimize the harmful effects of these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile manufacturing is one of the most polluting industrial sectors because of the release of potentially toxic compounds, such as synthetic dyes, into the environment. Depending on the class of the dyes, their loss in wastewaters can range from 2% to 50% of the original dye concentration. Consequently, uncontrolled use of such dyes can negatively affect human health and the ecological balance. The present study assessed the toxicity of the textile dyes Direct Black 38 (DB38), Reactive Blue 15 (RB15), Reactive Orange 16 (RO16), and Vat Green 3 (VG3) using zebrafish ( Danio rerio) embryos for 144 h postfertilization (hpf). At the tested conditions, none of the dyes caused significant mortality. The highest RO16 dose significantly delayed or inhibited the ability of zebrafish embryos to hatch from the chorion after 96 hpf. From 120 hpf to 144 hpf, all the dyes impaired the gas bladder inflation of zebrafish larvae, DB38 also induced curved tail, and VG3 led to yolk sac edema in zebrafish larvae. Based on these data, DB38, RB15, RO16, and VG3 can induce malformations during embryonic and larval development of zebrafish. Therefore, it is essential to remove these compounds from wastewater or reduce their concentrations to safe levels before discharging textile industry effluents into the aquatic environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:429-434. © 2015 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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., (© 2016 SETAC.)

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.

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.

Background: Reference values for some xenobiotics naturally present in the body are important for biomonitoring, in order to compare the levels found in a population exposed to the xenobiotic with those of a reference population. Acetone in urine (UAc) is the most used bioindicator to evaluate worker exposure to acetone and isopropanol., Objectives: Since acetone is also found in individuals not occupationally exposed to these solvents, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the basal levels of UAc and the possible influence of individual factors on such levels., Methods: The population consisted in 207 individuals, 91 men and 116 women, between 18 and 80 years old. UAc was determined by headspace/gas chromatography/FID., Results: For the total population, the reference values found were: mean (+/- SD), 1.12 (+/- 0.47) mg/l; median 1.04 mg/l; geometric mean 1.03 mg/l; 95% confidence interval 0.98-1.26 mg/l, 95th percentile 2.20 mg/l and upper reference level (mean+2 SD) 2.06 mg/l. As the values of UAc resulted in a non-Gaussian distribution, the option was to transform these values to log UAc, which drew the data closer to normal distribution (W=0. 98532, p<0.7000)., Conclusions: Reference values for acetone in urine determined in a population in south Minas Gerais, Brazil, are close to the background values reported elsewhere; gender and ingestion of alcohol seem to affect the basal levels of urinary acetone, while age or smoking showed no similar effect.

Blood samples were collected from 113 subjects (56 males and 57 females) living in the district of Alfenas, in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil, to establish reference values for delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALA-D, EC 4.2.1.24). The state of health of the population was confirmed by hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed in blood and urine samples. ALA-D determination was performed according to the Berlin & Schaller spectrophotometric method. Distribution may be regarded as according to normal distribution and reference values obtained, in micromol x min(-1) x L(-1) erythrocytes, were: mean (+/- SD) = 54.5 (+/- 9.8); 95% confidence interval = 52.7-56.4; lower reference value (mean-2 SD) = 34.9. Mean ALA-D activity was higher than any other published elsewhere and the reference values established are useful as a baseline for evaluating ALA-D activity when monitoring persons exposed to lead. Age, gender, drinking, or smoking did not significantly alter (Student t-test, p < or = 0.05) the reference values for ALA-D.