Abstract
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.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Caio Okon, Mylena Bathke Rocha, Lizandra de Souza Ratuchinski, Diego Espirito Santo, Charla Chaionara Schults Duarte, Lidiane de Lima Feitoza, Osvaldo Valarini Junior, Paulo Michel Pinheiro Ferreira, Edson Araújo de Almeida, Maria Cristina Oliveira Halmemam, Danielle Cristina da Silva de Oliveira, Regiane da Silva Gonzalez, Débora Cristina de Souza, and Ana Paula Peron. The final draft of the manuscript was written by Ana Paula Peron and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Okon, C., Rocha, M.B., de Souza Ratuchinski, L. et al. Toxicity of the emerging pollutants propylparaben and dichloropropylparaben to terrestrial plants. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34178-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34178-w