Sewage sludge does not induce genotoxicity and carcinogenesis.

Through a series of experiments, the genotoxic/mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of sewage sludge was assessed. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Group 1 - negative control; Group 2 - liver carcinogenesis initiated by diethylnitrosamine (DEN; 200 mg/kg i.p.); Group 3 and G4-liver carcinogenesis initiated by DEN and fed 10,000 ppm or 50,000 ppm of sewage sludge. The animals were submitted to a 70% partial hepatectomy at the 3(rd) week. Livers were processed for routine histological analysis and immunohistochemistry, in order to detect glutathione S-transferase positive altered hepatocyte foci (GST-P(+) AHF). Peripheral blood samples for the comet assay were obtained from the periorbital plexus immediately prior to sacrificing. Polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) were analyzed in femoral bone-marrow smears, and the frequencies of those micronucleated (MNPCEs) registered. There was no sewage-sludge-induced increase in frequency of either DNA damage in peripheral blood leucocytes, or MNPCEs in the femoral bone marrow. Also, there was no increase in the levels of DNA damage, in the frequency of MNPCEs, and in the development of GST-P AHF when compared with the respective control group.

Acute, subacute toxicity and mutagenic effects of anacardic acids from cashew (Anacardium occidentale Linn.) in mice.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Anacardium occidentale Linn. (cashew) is a Brazilian plant that is usually consumed in natura and is used in folk medicine. Anacardic acids (AAs) in the cashew nut shell liquid are biologically active as gastroprotectors, inhibitors of the activity of various deleterious enzymes, antitumor agents and antioxidants. Yet, there are no reports of toxicity testing to guarantee their use in vivo models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated AAs biosafety by measuring the acute, subacute and mutagenic effects of AAs administration in BALB/c mice. In acute tests, BALB/c mice received a single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg, whereas animals in subacute tests received 300, 600 and 1000 mg/kg for 30 days. Hematological, biochemical and histological analyses were performed in all animals. Mutagenicity was measured with the acute micronucleus test 24h after oral administration of 250 mg/kg AAs. RESULTS: Our results showed that the AAs acute minimum lethal dose in BALB/c mice is higher than 2000 mg/kg since this concentration did not produce any symptoms. In subacute tests, females which received the highest doses (600 or 1000 mg/kg) were more susceptible, which was seen by slightly decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin levels coupled with a moderate increase in urea. Anacardic acids did not produce any mutagenic effects. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that doses less than 300 mg/kg did not produce biochemical and hematological alterations in BALB/c mice. Additional studies must be conducted to investigate the pharmacological potential of this natural substance in order to ensure their safe use in vivo.

In vivo genotoxicity evaluation of a treated urban sewage sludge sample.

Tons of sludge is produced daily in sewage treatment plants of large cities, causing an enormous disposal problem. Because recycling has been proposed to mitigate the situation, the potential adverse health effects of the sludge should be verified before that policy is undertaken. The present study is a part of an assessment of oral toxicity in rats fed with sewer-treated sludge and aimed to contribute to its genotoxicity characterization. After a 2-week acclimatization period, male and female Wistar rats were fed ad libitum for 90 days a pelleted commercial diet containing 0, 5000, 10,000 and 50,000 ppm of a treated sludge sample. The potential mutagenic or genotoxic effect was detected in recent animal cells by the bone marrow micronucleus test and the comet assay, respectively. For the comet assay peripheral blood samples were obtained immediately before the sacrifice from the periorbital plexus. Following sacrifices, polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) were analyzed in femoral bone marrow smears and the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) were registered. Results of both assays indicated that exposure to any of the sludge concentrations tested did not increase the frequency of MNPCEs or the levels of DNA damage when compared to non-exposed concurrent control rats.

Avaliação do potencial genotóxico e cancerígeno do lodo de estação de tratamento de esgoto (LETE) em sistemas experimentais in vivo / In vivo evaluation of the carcinogenic potential of sewage sludge from a urban wastewater treatment plant in experimental systems

A rápida oxidação da matéria orgânica dos solos tropicais é mais uma evidência da grande vantagem do uso de biossólidos como condicionadores, capazes de melhorar as características físicas, químicas e biológicas do solo com grandes reflexos na produtividade agrícola. Portanto, o presente projeto objetivou averiguar o potencial genotóxico e cancerígeno dos lotes do Lodo de Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto (LETE) gerado em uma ETE prédefinida na região da bacia hidrográfica Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí (PCJ1). Estes dados poderão fornecer subsídios para a avaliação do risco das populações humanas e o meio ambiente expostas ao LETE. Foram utilizados 140 ratos Wistar machos com 8 semanas de idade, expostos, via ração, a concentrações de 10.000 e 50.000ppm de LETE, durante 6 e 8 semanas, com os iniciadores DEN (N-dietilnitrosamina) e DMH (1,2- dimetilhidrazina), conforme citado nos respectivos protocolos (Figuras 4 e 5). A avaliação toxicológica do lodo de esgoto desenvolvida pelo Núcleo de Avaliação do Impacto Ambiental Sobre a Saúde Humana (TOXICAM), enfocou os parâmetros toxicológicos, como seu potencial genotóxico, pelos testes do cometa e micronúcleo em sangue periférico e medula óssea e carcinogenicidade pelos ensaios de FCA e FHA. Os dois ensaios foram divididos em 4 grupos (FCA- GI=Controle Negativo, GII=Controle Positivo/DMH III=10.000ppmLETE e GIV=50.000ppmLETE); (FHAGI= Controle Negativo, GII=Controle Positivo/DEN, GIII=10.000ppmLETE e GIV=50.000ppmLETE). Entretanto, na 3ª semana foi realizada hepatectomia parcial em todos os animais dos respectivos grupos do ensaio de FHA. No teste do cometa foram utilizados 10 animais como controle positivo (controle interno - MNU-N-metil-N-nitrosourea), e 10 animais como controle negativo nos respectivos ensaios (FCA e FHA). Os testes em questão indicaram que o LETE não promove aumento do número de criptas...

Fast oxidation of organic matter on tropical soils is another evidence of the great advantage of using biosolids as conditioners once they are able to improve biological, chemical and physical characteristics of the soil with remarkable consequences on agricultural productivity. Therefore, the present project aimed at verifying genotoxic and carcinogenic potential plots of sludge from sewage treatment plants in a pre-defined watershed region at Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí (PCJ1). These data may provide support to evaluate risks on human populations and the environment exposed to sludge from sewage treatment plants. In the study, 140 Wistar male rats, 8 weekold, were used. They were exposed, via chow, to a 10.000 and 50.000 ppm concentration of sludge from sewage treatment plants during 6 to 8 weeks with DEN initiators (diethylnitrosamine) and DMH (1,2-dimethylhydrazine) as mentioned in protocols (Figures 4 and 5). Toxicological evaluation of LETE developed by Center of Evaluation of Environmental Impact on Human Health (TOXICAM) focused toxicological parameters with its genotoxic potential by comet and micronucleus assays on peripheral blood and bone marrow in Wistar rats and carcinogenicity using ACF and AHF assays. Both assays were divided into 4 groups (ACF- GI=Negative Control, GII=Positive Control/DMH III=10.000ppmLETE and GIV=50.000ppmLETE); (AHF-GI=Negative Control, GII=Positive Positive/DEN, GIII=10.000ppmLETE and GIV=50.000ppmLETE). Therefore, on the 3rd week partial hepatectomy was performed in every animal from AHF assays respective groups. assays and to FCA comet test, using MNU (N-methyl-N-nitrosourea) as positive control. The tests in question indicated that the SS not promote increased number of aberrant crypts in the colon, number and area of foci of altered hepatocytes in the liver, lesions in DNA (comet), and also, significantly increased the frequency of micronucleus in...