title: Application of Fenton oxidation to reduce the toxicity of mixed parabens.
abstract: The aims of the present work were to assess the application of a chemical process to degrade a mixture of parabens and determine the influence of a natural river water matrix on toxicity. Model effluents containing either a single compound, namely methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, benzylparaben or p-hydroxybenzoic acid, or to mimic realistic conditions a mixture of the six compounds was used. Fenton process was applied to reduce the organic charge and toxic properties of the model effluents. The efficiency of the decontamination has been investigated using a chemical as well as a toxicological approach. The potential reduction of the effluents' toxicity after Fenton treatment was evaluated by assessing (i) Vibrio fischeri luminescence inhibition, (ii) lethal effects amongst freshwater Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea), and (iii) the impact on mammalian neuronal activity using brain slices. From the environmental point of view such a broad toxicity analysis has been performed for the first time. The results indicate that Fenton reaction is an effective method for the reduction of chemical oxygen demand of a mixture of parabens and their toxicity to V. fischeri and C. fluminea. However, no important differences were found between raw and treated samples in regard to mammalian neuronal activity.
authors: CIEPQPF-Chemical Processes and Forest Products Research Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, Coimbra 3030-790, Portugal E-mail: martins@eq.uc.pt.
authors: Rui C
authors: RC
authors: Martins
authors: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, Lodz 90-924, Poland.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Gmurek
authors: CIEPQPF-Chemical Processes and Forest Products Research Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, Coimbra 3030-790, Portugal E-mail: martins@eq.uc.pt.
authors: André F
authors: AF
authors: Rossi
authors: CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology and Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra P-3004-516, Portugal.
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Corceiro
authors: CIEPQPF-Chemical Processes and Forest Products Research Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, Coimbra 3030-790, Portugal E-mail: martins@eq.uc.pt.
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Costa
authors: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, Lodz 90-924, Poland.
authors: M Emília
authors: ME
authors: Quinta-Ferreira
authors: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, Lodz 90-924, Poland.
authors: Stanislaw
authors: S
authors: Ledakowicz
authors: CIEPQPF-Chemical Processes and Forest Products Research Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, Coimbra 3030-790, Portugal E-mail: martins@eq.uc.pt.
authors: Rosa M
authors: RM
authors: Quinta-Ferreira
mesh_terms: D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D049874:Corbicula / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010226:Parabens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D010226:Parabens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C038193:4-hydroxybenzoic acid