Toxic effects of the ingestion of water-soluble elements found in soil under the atmospheric influence of an industrial complex.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the toxic effects of water-soluble elements from a contaminated soil via gavage in a single dose, simulating a geophagy event. The contaminated soil was collected in a field located in an industrial complex, and the control soil was collected in a reference area. Metabolic and behavioral parameters in Wistar male rats were measured after 24 and 96 h of gavage. After 96 h, the major organs were weighed, blood was collected to check hematological parameters, the bone marrow was taken for the micronucleus test, and the liver was used for evaluating the total antioxidant capacity, lipoperoxidation and protein carbonylation. Animals exposed to contaminated soil presented a few significant alterations by comparison with control animals: TBARS and protein carbonyl levels increased, the relative weight of the kidneys increased, metabolic parameters (body weight gain, food intake, water consumption, urine and feces production) depressed and there was behavioral alteration. These findings suggest that soils impacted by atmospheric contaminants can affect the organism physiological status jeopardizing the health of populations living in industrial areas. Finally, this study reassures that ingestion of potentially contaminated soils, even for short periods of time, can cause health risks.

• Authors: Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior, Patrick Ferreira Silva, Edariane Menestrino Garcia, Roberta Daniele Klein, Gianni Peraza-Cardoso, Paulo Roberto Baisch, Vera Maria Ferrão Vargas, Ana Luíza Muccillo-Baisch
• Journal: Environmental geochemistry and health (Environ Geochem Health) Vol. 35 Issue 3 Pg. 317-31 (Jun 2013) ISSN: 1573-2983 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 23096081 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Air Pollutants
• Antioxidants
• Industrial Waste
• Metals, Heavy
• Soil
• Soil Pollutants
• Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

Topics

• Air Pollutants (chemistry, toxicity)
• Animals
• Antioxidants (metabolism)
• Industrial Waste (adverse effects, analysis)
• Kidney (drug effects, metabolism)
• Lipid Peroxidation (drug effects)
• Male
• Metals, Heavy (administration & dosage, isolation & purification, toxicity)
• Micronucleus Tests
• Organ Size
• Protein Carbonylation (drug effects)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Soil (chemistry)
• Soil Pollutants (administration & dosage, chemistry, toxicity)
• Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (metabolism)
• Time Factors