Ecotoxicological evaluation of effluent from bovine slaughterhouses disinfected by peracetic acid (PAA) using the bioindicator Girardia tigrina.

The evaluation of the ecotoxicological effects of the effluent after treatment with peracetic acid is relevant to help establish reference concentrations for the disinfection process and waste recovery. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the ecotoxicity of effluent from a bovine slaughterhouse treated with peracetic acid on Girardia tigrina. The toxicity bioassays for planaria were the acute test (LC 50) and chronic assays: locomotion, regeneration, reproduction and fertility. The results showed that the effluent treated with peracetic acid showed less toxicity than the effluent without application of peracetic acid. The effluent after peracetic acid application showed a chronic toxic effect in the reduction of locomotor speed in all studied disinfectant concentrations (0.8, 1.6, 3.3 and 6.6 μg L−1 of peracetic acid) and a delay in the formation of G. tigrina photoreceptors at the concentration of 6.6 μg L−1 of peracetic acid. Peracetic acid concentrations of 0.8, 1.6 and 3.3 μg L−1 were not toxic for blastema regeneration, photoreceptor and auricle formation, fecundity and fertility. In addition, this study assists in defining doses of peracetic acid to be recommended in order to ensure the wastewater disinfection process without causing harm to aquatic organisms. • Ecotoxicity of effluent treated with PAA on Girardia tigrina was evaluated. • Chronic toxic effect in the reduction of locomotor speed of G. tigrina was observed. • There was delay in the formation of G. tigrina photoreceptor. • The effluent treated with peracetic acid showed less toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]