Ácido acetilsalicílico em concentrações de traço causa toxicidade celular e sistêmica em raízes de plantas cultivadas

Abstract

The widespread use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) has raised concerns about its continued release into agricultural environments through wastewater reuse and the application of biosolids. However, its ecotoxicological effects on plants at environmentally relevant concentrations (trace levels) are still poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of ASA (1–1000 ng•L⁻¹) on the germination and root growth of Daucus carota L., Solanum lycopersicum L., and Cucumis sativus L., as well as its cytotoxic and genotoxic potential in root meristems of Allium cepa L. Although no effects were observed at the lowest concentrations, exposures of 100 and 1000 ng•L⁻¹ significantly reduced root growth in all species evaluated. These concentrations also induced oxidative stress, evidenced by the accumulation of H₂O₂ and increased lipid peroxidation. In A. cepa, ASA caused significant mitosuppressive and aneugenic effects, including chromosomal disorganization at different stages of mitosis and the formation of sticky chromosomes at 1000 ng•L⁻¹. These effects are associated with the dysregulation of redox homeostasis and the imbalance of antioxidant systems Taken together, the results demonstrate that AAS can compromise the initial development of plants at trace concentrations, affecting root integrity and cell function, highlighting its potential risk in agricultural systems.