Toxicity of the emerging pollutants propylparaben and dichloropropylparaben to terrestrial plants

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2024-07, Vol.31 (33), p.45834-45846
• Main Authors: Okon, Caio, Rocha, Mylena Bathke, de Souza Ratuchinski, Lizandra, Santo, Diego Espirito, Duarte, Charla Chaionara Schults, de Lima Feitoza, Lidiane, Junior, Osvaldo Valarini, Ferreira, Paulo Michel Pinheiro, de Almeida, Edson Araújo, Halmemam, Maria Cristina Oliveira, dade SilvaOliveira, Danielle Cristina, da Silva Gonzalez, Regiane, de Souza, Débora Cristina, Peron, Ana Paula
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural wastes; Allium cepa; Aquatic Pollution; Ascorbic acid; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bulbs; Catalase; Cell proliferation; Chemical compounds; Cucumis sativus; Cucumis sativus - drug effects; Cytotoxicity; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental engineering; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Free radicals; Genotoxicity; Guaiacol; Hydroxyl radicals; L-Ascorbate peroxidase; Lactuca - drug effects; Lactuca sativa; Lycopersicon esculentum; Meristems; Onions; Onions - drug effects; Parabens - toxicity; Peroxidase; Phytotoxicity; Plant Roots - drug effects; Pollutants; Prophase; Propyl paraben; Raw wastewater; Research Article; Roots; Seeds; Sludge; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soil pollution; Tomatoes; Toxicity; Vegetables; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater irrigation; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water resources
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34178-w

Propylparaben (PrP) and dichloropropylparaben (diClPrP) are found in soil worldwide, mainly due to the incorporation of urban sludge in crop soils and the use of non-raw wastewater for irrigation. Studies on the adverse effects of PrP on plants are incipient and not found for diClPrP. PrP and diClPrP were evaluated at concentrations 4, 40, and 400 µg/L for their phytotoxic potential to seeds of Allium cepa (onion), Cucumis sativus (cucumber), Lycopersicum sculentum (tomato), and Lactuca sativa (lettuce), and cytotoxic, genotoxic potential, and for generating oxygen-reactive substances in root meristems of A. cepa bulbs. PrP and diClPrP caused a significant reduction in seed root elongation in all four species. In A. cepa bulb roots, PrP and diClPrP resulted in a high prophase index; in addition, PrP at 400 µg/L and diClPrP at the three concentrations significantly decreased cell proliferation and caused alterations in a significant number of cells. Furthermore, diClPrP concentrations induced the development of hooked roots in onion bulbs. The two chemical compounds caused significant changes in the modulation of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase, disarming the root meristems against hydroxyl radicals and superoxides. Therefore, PrP and diClPrP were phytotoxic and cytogenotoxic to the species tested, proving dangerous to plants.