Feet in danger: short exposure to contaminated soil causing health damage—an experimental study

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2018-03, Vol.25 (9), p.8669-8675
• Main Authors: da Silva Júnior, Flavio Manoel Rodrigues, Pinto, Edlaine Acosta, da Silveira, Tatiane Britto, Garcia, Edariane Menestrino, de Oliveira, Adriane Maria Netto, Muccillo-Baisch, Ana Luíza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Blood Cell Count; Brazil; Cages; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Exploratory behavior; Exposure; Hazards; Hematology; Leukocytes; Maze Learning - drug effects; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Open-field behavior; Petroleum industry; Petroleum Pollution - adverse effects; Petroleum Pollution - analysis; Petroleum refining; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Research Article; Soil - chemistry; Soil contamination; Soil investigations; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soil pollution; Soils; Toxicity Tests; Urban areas; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1229-6

In this study, hematological and behavioral changes in Wistar rats exposed to soil collected from urban areas next to an industrial complex were investigated. Animals were exposed to soil samples placed at the bottom of cages for 4 days. After this period, behavioral parameters were measured by the open field test and the elevated plus-maze. Blood was collected to measure hematological parameters. The soil from the vicinity of the oil refining industry caused changes in hematological parameters and altered behavioral parameters in both tests. The soil from the vicinity of the petroleum refining industry and fertilizer industries increased the density of white blood cells and decreased exploratory activity in the exposed animals. The results demonstrate that contact with contaminated soils, even for short periods, can cause physiological damage in organisms and that special attention should be given to people who live under constant exposure to these soils.