Utilização de teste in vivo para análise de presença de substâncias com potencial de desregulação endócrina em efluente de indústria metalúrgica

Abstract

Population growth and consumption increases and pollution of water resources, has generated great concern about water quality. The metallurgical industry produces effluents with contaminants such as oil, grease, and heavy metals. These substances or a combination of toxic substances are likely to cause changes in the endocrine system of living organisms, such as cancer, early puberty, male infertility, feminization of wild animals, among others. The study aimed to point out what happened to Wistar rats who consumed metallurgical industry effluent before and after the treatment process in order to analyze the presence of substances with potential endocrine dysfunction in blood plasma. We assessed the levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, estradiol, and the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Plasma samples from rats that consumed the treated effluent showed high levels of glucose and estradiol. There were no lesions in the liver of mice examined, as there was no change in the results of AST and ALT enzymes. It is suggested that these changes were caused by nonylphenol, a known endocrine disrupter present in most detergents industrials. The emission standards for industrial wastewater stipulated in our country refers to physical contaminants, chemical and biological that may be issued to the middle environment after the completion of treatment. The relevant environmental legislation in our country comes to these emission limits, but does not make clear in relation to substances considered as endocrine disruptors. This research aims to obtain data through review of the literature on standards of tolerable emissions, not impairing the vital activities of living things. Brazilian law cites the ban on the use of certain substances with endocrine disrupting potential, but without a satisfactory approach. The European Union (EU), the United States and Japan have goals and regulations on non-use of substances with endocrine interference potential.