ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is among the most common plasticizer additives that humans are in contact with daily. DEHP can be released from plastic and enter the human body, whereby it is metabolized and transformed into oxidative hydrophilic molecules. Clinical follow-ups in patients exposed to this phthalate and investigations in cultures of several cell types have provided information on its effects. For example, it is associated with inhibition of diploid human cell development and morphological changes in cultured germ cells. Although skeletal muscle represents around 50 % of the human body mass, knowledge about the effects of DEHP on this tissue is poor. Cultured skeletal muscle cells were exposed to DEHP (1 mM) for 13 days with the aim of exploring and evaluating some of the potential morphological effects. Three culture development parameters and nine cell characteristics were monitored during the bioassay. At 13 days, growth area, cell viability, and concentration of total proteins were lower in DEHP exposed than in control cells. Cell width and area, as well as the diameter of the nucleus and nucleolus, were greater in exposed cells than in control cells. These are interpreted as signs of cytotoxicity and suggest potential adverse effects on the development of skeletal muscle cells from DEHP exposure, as reported for other cell types.
RESUMEN: Diariamente los seres humanos tenemos contacto con aditivos plastificantes, el di-(2-etilhexil) ftalato (DEHP) se encuentra entre los más comunes. El DEHP puede liberarse del plástico e ingresar al cuerpo humano, donde es metabolizado y transformando en moléculas hidrofílicas oxidativas. Seguimientos en pacientes expuestos a este ftalato e investigaciones en cultivos de varios tipos celulares han aportado información sobre sus efectos. El DEHP es asociado con la inhibición del desarrollo de células humanas diploides y cambios morfológicos en células germinales en cultivo. Sin embargo, aún es poco lo que se sabe sobre los efectos en el músculo esquelético, a pesar de que este tejido representa alrededor del 50 % de la masa corporal del humano. Para explorar y evaluar algunos efectos morfológicos en células de músculo esquelético, cultivos primarios fueron expuestos a DEHP (1 mM) durante 13 días. Se dio seguimiento a tres parámetros de desarrollo del cultivo y nueve características celulares. Al término de 13 días de exposición, los valores del área de crecimiento, viabilidad celular y concentración de proteínas totales fueron inferiores con respecto a los cultivos control. Se observaron cambios morfométricos en las células expuestas. Particularmente, el ancho y área celular, así como los diámetros del núcleo y nucleolos, fueron mayores a los registros en las células control. Estos resultados se interpretan como signos de citotoxicidad y sugieren efectos potencialmente adversos en el desarrollo de las células del músculo esquelético ante una exposición al DEHP, como se ha registrado para otros tipos celulares.
Subject(s)
Humans , Plasticizers/toxicity , Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects , Diethylhexyl Phthalate/toxicity , Biological Assay , Muscle, Skeletal/cytology , Environmental Pollutants , Primary Cell CultureABSTRACT
Abstract This study describes the use of bentonite in suspension for the caffeine adsorption (pollutant of emerging concern) by taking different conditions of the pH, adsorbent mass, adsorbent calcination temperature and interferents into account. The results were compared with those obtained using bentonite immobilized in alginate beads. The acid medium has a greater efficiency for the caffeine adsorption and the adsorbent calcination temperature exerts, due to structural changes. Caffeine removal higher than 90% was obtained at optimized conditions. The Langmuir model indicated a better fit of the data and the adsorption capacity of caffeine onto bentonite. The bentonite immobilized led to a slower adsorption process in relation to the suspended.
Subject(s)
Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification , Bentonite/chemistry , Caffeine/chemistry , Thermodynamics , Caffeine/adverse effects , Adsorption , Environmental Pollutants/isolation & purification , Hot Temperature , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Models, TheoreticalABSTRACT
Environmental problems are the most serious challenges in the 21st century. With the rapid development of modern industry and agriculture, ecological and environmental deterioration have become the most important factors to restrict the sustainable development of social economy. Microbial cells have strong ability for environmental remediation, but their evolution speed is slower than the speed of emerging pollutants. Therefore, the treatment using the synthetic biology is in urgent need. Full understanding of the microbial degradation characteristics (pathways) of refractory organic pollutants with the help of abundant microbial and gene resources in China is important. Using synthetic biology to redesign and transform the existing degrading strain will be used to degrade particular organic pollutants or multiple organic pollutants. For the complex pollutants, such as wastewater, based on the establishment of metabolic or regulation or resistance related gene modules of typical organic pollutants, artificial flora could be designed to solve the complex pollutants. The rational design and construction of engineering bacteria for typical environmental organic pollutants can effectively promote microbial catabolism of emerging contaminants, providing technical support for environmental remediation in China.
ABSTRACT
The increasing disposal of medicines into the environment has increased concern about the possible environmental impact of such actions, in both the medium and long term. Estrogens have been found in soil, surface water and groundwater. The aim of this study was to assess the ecotoxicity of chemical residues originating from in situ oxidation of 17β estradiol with hydrogen peroxide, a process of chemical remediation which is used to remove these hormones in acetone solution, at various pHs. Analyses were carried out by high resolution gas chromatography and a bioassay in which the single-cell species Euglena gracilis was the test organism. The results were obtained by comparing analyses done before and after the AOP (advanced oxidation process). It was observed that at pH 5.0, with a treatment time of 20 minutes, there was a good yield, but with some change in the behavior of the test organism. With a pH of 7.0, with 20 minutes time, the yield was low but there was no demonstration of ecotoxicological activity...
Com o crescente descarte de medicamentos no meio ambiente, observa-se o aumento da preocupação com o impacto ambiental que tal ação pode acarretar, tanto a médio como em longo prazo. Os estrogênios vêm sendo encontrados no solo, em águas superficiais e subterrâneas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a ecotoxicidade dos resíduos químicos originados a partir da oxidação do 17? estradiol, via peróxido de hidrogênio, em um processo destinado à remoção química destes hormônios em solução de acetona, e em diferentes pHs. As análises foram feitas utilizando cromatografia gasosa de alta resolução e bioteste com algas do gênero Euglenas gracillis. Os resultados foram baseados nas comparações de análises pré-processo oxidativo avançado (POA) e pós POA. Observou-se que os resultados obtidos na condição de pH 5,0, com tempo de 20 minutos, apresentou um bom rendimento, porém com mudança de comportamento dos bioindicadores. Em pH 7,0, com tempo de 20 minutos, o rendimento foi menor, porém não houve demonstração de atividade ecotoxicológica...