Phytotoxicity of effluents from swine slaughterhouses using lettuce and cucumber seeds as bioindicators

This study evaluated the phytotoxic effects of raw and treated effluents from a swine slaughterhouse on cucumber and lettuce seeds and determined correlations among physicochemical characteristics of such effluents and the germination of seeds used as bioindicators. Physicochemical parameters were c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Science of the total environment Vol. 592; pp. 86 - 90
Main Authors:	Gerber, Michel David, Lucia, Thomaz, Correa, Luciara, Neto, José Eduardo Pereira, Correa, Érico Kunde
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15-08-2017
Subjects:	Abattoirs Animals Brazil Cucumis sativus - drug effects Fertigation Germination Germination - drug effects Industrial Waste - adverse effects Lactuca - drug effects Manure Seeds Seeds - drug effects Slaughterhouse Swine Toxicity Waste Products - adverse effects Wastewater reuse Seeds Fertigation Toxicity Germination Wastewater reuse Slaughterhouse
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Summary:	This study evaluated the phytotoxic effects of raw and treated effluents from a swine slaughterhouse on cucumber and lettuce seeds and determined correlations among physicochemical characteristics of such effluents and the germination of seeds used as bioindicators. Physicochemical parameters were characterized for both effluents and their phytotoxicity was determined through the germination index (GI), the root length (RL) and the number of germinated seeds (SG) for both plant species. The effluents treatment system was efficient to reduce the concentration of some physicochemical parameters to levels within those recommended by the Brazilian legislation, except for P, ammoniacal N and TKN concentration. Although phytotoxicity of the treated effluent was less in comparison to the raw effluent, the GI for cucumber and lettuce seeds submitted to each of the tested effluents was lower than 80%. Thus, both effluents were phytotoxic for the tested bioindicators (p<0.05). For lettuce seeds, the GI presented negative correlations (p<0.05) with the total Kjeldahl N (−0.93) and the surfactants concentration (−0.83) in the raw effluent. The Zn concentration in the treated effluent showed a negative correlation (p<0.05) with the GI of both lettuce (−0.63) and cucumber seeds (−0.64). Therefore, effluents from swine slaughterhouses may impair the germination of the evaluated plant species if used for agricultural purposes. [Display omitted] •Physicochemical parameters of effluents from swine slaughterhouse were evaluated.•Lettuce and cucumber seeds were used as bioindicators of phytotoxicity.•Raw and treated effluents presented toxic effects for both tested seeds.•The GI of lettuce seeds was negatively correlated with TKN and surfactants.•There were negative correlations between Zn and the GI for both seeds.
ISSN:	0048-9697 1879-1026
DOI:	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.075