Characterization of pharmaceuticals industrial effluent using GC–MS and FT-IR analyses and defining its toxicity

Abstract

The physicochemical analysis of collected effluent sample for different parameters shown results as pH (pH 5.6 ± 0.11) slightly acidic, high conductivity (1563.34 ± 176 μs cm −1), total dissolved solids (920.34 ± 137 mg L −1), high BOD (7253.34 ± 1022 mg L −1), and COD (756.67 ± 1124 mg L −1) in the effluent sample. The results of heavy metals concentration are viz. as [Cu (1.98-2.56), Co (0.26-0.53), Cd (0.10-0.50), Ni (0.04-0.07), Pb (0.58-1.2), Mn (0.58-1.05), Cr (1.47-1.51), Zn (2.61-3.5), Fe (1.72-2.13), As (0.05-0.09), and Hg (0.003-0.006)]. Results revealed the higher concentration of BOD, COD, TDS, and conductivity and also the concentration of lead. Results of GC-MS also confirmed the high levels of organic pollutants in effluent. Further the effluent toxicity was evaluated by employing genotoxocity assays with the use of Allium cepa L. (onion) root tip cells. Genotoxicity measured mitotic index (MI) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in root tip cells obtained after treatment with effluent of 6.25, 12.5, and 25% concentration (v/v). The results of root growth test showed that inhibition of root growth occurred at effluent concentration ≥ 50% (v/v). The lowest MI was recorded (MI = 9.6%) in 25% of effluent concentration, showing a significant reduction in mitotic index compared with control which MI = 64.1%. Further, the chromosomal aberration was investigated in root tip cell after treating with different concentration ranges of effluent exhibiting various CA, viz. c-mitosis, chromosome loss, chromosome break, micronucleated cells, etc. The result suggests that the effluent contained toxic constituents, which imposed cytotoxic and genotoxic hazard.

Chromosomal aberrations induced by cassava industrial effluent using Allium Cepa assay

“…This study also revealed decrease in the Mitotic Indices (MI) of effluent -treated root cells compared to the control which indicates mito-depressive potential of the effluent at every concentration. This observed reduction in Mitotic Index is in agreement with the reports of [4,17,27,37] who observed decrease in Mitotic Indices of effluent -treated Allium cepa root tip cells compared to control. Kumari and Tripathi [27] opined that the reduction in Mitotic Index in chemical-treated Allium cepa root cells could be as a result of the effect of toxic chemicals on the synthesis of DNA or protein.…”

“…This observed reduction in Mitotic Index is in agreement with the reports of [4,17,27,37] who observed decrease in Mitotic Indices of effluent -treated Allium cepa root tip cells compared to control. Kumari and Tripathi [27] opined that the reduction in Mitotic Index in chemical-treated Allium cepa root cells could be as a result of the effect of toxic chemicals on the synthesis of DNA or protein.…”

“…According to [20] mitotic index and type/rate of chromosomal abnormalities are two common markers used to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of mutagenic agents. Allium cepa (onion) is frequently employed for the assessment of environmental risk because it contains few numbers of chromosomes that are large enough to present clear elucidation of chromosome aberrations [25,26,27].…”

Effects of Treated Wastewater on Vegetative Growth and Pigmentation of Forage Crops

“…al., 2017;Rana et. al., 2017;Kumari and Tripathi, 2019). Many gigantic polluting and turbid e uent releases from granite cutting plant.…”

Toxicity Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Wastewater to the Nile Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>)

“…It has been noted that the approach of investigating the effects of individual components of pharmaceutical effluents had a limitation of providing information on the effects of all components present as a mixture in the effluent [15]. Lots of research has assessed the toxicity of pharmaceutical effluents [16] [17]. It was established in a study that bacterial isolates from pharmaceutical waste water investigated revealed multi-drug resistant strains [18].…”