Sugar cane vinasse in water bodies: Impact assessed by liver histopathology in tilapia

Author(s)

Urbano Marinho, Julia Fernanda ^[1] ; Correia, Jorge Evangelista ^[1] ; de Castro Marcato, Ana Claudia ^[1] ; Pedro-Escher, Janaina ^[1] ; Fontanetti, Carmem Silvia ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] UNESP, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY; v. 110, p. 239-245, DEC 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 16

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are the main receptors of toxic substances from human activities. With the increase in sugar cane production, vinasse - the main residue of ethanol production - is a potential contaminant of water resources, due to its high organic matter content. This study was aimed at evaluating the toxicity of vinasse by examining the liver of the fish Oreochromis niloticus exposed to different dilutions of sugar cane vinasse (1%, 2%, 5%, 5% and 10%) in laboratory bioassays. Portions of liver were collected and fixed for histological and histochemical techniques to detect total proteins, polysaccharides and lipids. In the histological analysis, the groups treated with vinasse exhibited significant alterations, such as loss of cytoplasmic integrity, loss of cell limit and tissue disorganization. Protein and lipid profiles were not altered. Higher accumulation of polysaccharides was detected in fish exposed to lower concentrations of vinasse, with a gradual decrease in animals treated with vinasse in higher concentrations. We concluded that vinasse has a dose-dependent toxic and cytotoxic potential in water bodies and that the liver is strongly affected when acutely exposed to this contaminant. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/06749-8 - Evaluation of vinasse sugar-cane toxicity using Oreochromis niloticus (Perciformes: Cichlidae) as test-organism.
• Grantee: Jorge Evangelista Correia
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 11/06845-7 - Evaluation of vinasse toxicity by histological analysis of liver of Oreochromis niloticus (Perciformes: Cichlidae) fish
• Grantee: Julia Fernanda Urbano Marinho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 12/50197-2 - Action of products used in cultivation of sugar cane on non-target organisms
• Grantee: Carmem Silvia Fontanetti Christofoletti
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants