title: Effects of gamma radiation on cork wastewater: Antioxidant activity and toxicity.
abstract: A comprehensive assessment of the toxicity and antioxidant activity of cork boiling wastewater and the effects of gamma radiation on these parameters was performed. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using different methodologies as DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power and inhibition of β-carotene bleaching. The results have shown that gamma radiation can induce an increase on the antioxidant activity of cork boiling wastewater. Toxicity tests were performed to access the potential added value of the irradiated wastewaters and/or minimization of the impact for discharge in the environment. Two different methods for toxicity evaluation were followed, bacterial growth inhibition test and cytotoxicity assay, in order to predict the behavior of different cells (prokaryotic and eukaryotic) in the presence of cork wastewater. Non-treated cork boiling wastewater seemed to be non-toxic for prokaryotic cells (Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis) but toxic for eukaryotic cells (A549 human cells and RAW264.7 mouse cells). The gamma radiation treatment at doses of 100 kGy appeared to increase the toxicity of cork compounds for all tested cells, which could be related to a toxic effect of radiolytic products of cork compounds in the wastewaters.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C(2)TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, E.N. 10 ao km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal. Electronic address: joanamadureira@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madureira
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C(2)TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, E.N. 10 ao km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal. Electronic address: apimenta@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Andreia I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.affiliation: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Bulevardul Carol I 11, Iasi 700506, Romania. Electronic address: popescu.larisa13@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Larisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.affiliation: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Bulevardul Carol I 11, Iasi 700506, Romania. Electronic address: alexandra_besleaga@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Besleaga
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), ESA, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal. Electronic address: maria.ines@ipb.pt.
authors.forename: Maria Inês
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C(2)TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, E.N. 10 ao km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal. Electronic address: psantos@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Pedro M P
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C(2)TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, E.N. 10 ao km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal. Electronic address: ritamelo@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), ESA, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal. Electronic address: iferreira@ipb.pt.
authors.forename: Isabel C F R
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C(2)TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, E.N. 10 ao km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal. Electronic address: sandracv@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabo Verde
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C(2)TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, E.N. 10 ao km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal. Electronic address: fmargaca@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Fernanda M A
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Margaça
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000633:toxicity*; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D062065:Wastewater; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D019207:beta Carotene
keywords: Antioxidant activity; Cork boiling water; Cytotoxicity; Ecotoxicity; Gamma radiation; Wastewater treatment