Characterization and genotoxicity evaluation of effluent from a pharmacy industry

Abstract

The pharmaceutical, textile and food industry bear much of the responsibility for environmental pollution. In order to appropriately treat and mitigate the effects of pharmaceutical effluent, it is necessary to study it in order to determine its physical and chemical composition. In this work, the physicochemical characteristics of a pharmaceutical effluent were studied, to include the concentration of phenolic compounds, heavy metals, total phosphorus, nitrate, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and dissolved oxygen (DO). The in vivo micronucleus test was performed in mice, for investigation and possible genotoxicity and mutagenicity of the effluent from the pharmaceutical hub in Anápolis - Goiás. In all samples, only the phenolics showed concentrations above the values established by CONAMA Resolution 430/2011. The high concentrations of total phenols and synergy between metals found in wastewater can be linked to mutagenicity and genotoxicity found in the effluent, since the results of the micronucleus test indicated higher micronucleus formation when the mice were exposed to the effluent. The results of the study highlighted the necessity of characterizing these effluents in order to determine an appropriate treatment

Use of Native Microorganisms as an Alternative for Biological Removal of Organic Matter in Wastewater from the Pharmaceutical Industry

“…Water is one of the most important compounds on the planet and its use for human and industrial consumption, preservation of flora and fauna, is given by the physical, chemical and biological characteristics, which can be modified by the entry of effluents or runoff [1]. Historically, the development of industry and urban centers occurs near bodies of water to supply the population's supply, resulting in the increase in municipal and industrial discharges to bodies of water generating an imbalance in physical parameters, chemical and biological affecting the characteristics of the recipient body [2,3]. The discharge of wastewater is considered as an important source of pollutants to the environment, especially due to the load of organic matter that cannot be removed and that, in it, different substances are combined that are not treated within the plants and are released into the environment without knowing their consequences [4].…”

Evaluation of the chemical composition of aquatic environments with leaf litter decomposition of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake (Myrtaceae) and their toxicity in Allium cepa L. (Amaryllidaceae)

“…Among the toxicity tests are those in the ecotoxicology area, which covers the study of the behavior and transformations of chemical agents in the environment, as well as their effects and responses on living organisms (Júnior et al 2013). In this vein, studies have been conducted in aquatic ecosystems, through tests with organisms that allow the identi cation of problems and the monitoring of these ecosystems (Cesar et al 1997).…”