Prospecção de ecotoxicidade do filtro solar octocrileno em mix com butilparabeno em plantas terrestres

Abstract

Octocrylene (OCT) and butylparaben (BuP), widely used in cosmetic formulations, have been detected in agricultural soils due to the application of sewage sludge and the use of wastewater for irrigation, constituting an emerging risk source for terrestrial ecosystems. Despite their environmental prevalence, the ecotoxicological effects of the combined exposure to these compounds in plants remain insufficiently understood. In this context, the present study evaluated the ecotoxicity of an OCT and BuP mixture on Cucumis sativus, Lycopersicon esculentum, and Lactuca sativa seeds, as well as on Allium cepa bulb roots, at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, and 500 ng/L (in quintuplicate). The results showed that the combined exposure to OCT and BuP did not induce significant phytotoxic or cytogenotoxic effects. In contrast, the combined exposure caused (p ≤ 0.05), even at the tested concentrations a marked reduction in root growth and inhibition of cell division in onion roots, associated with mitotic spindle disturbances and increased hydrogen peroxide production in the meristems. These findings demonstrated a synergistic interaction between the compounds and revealed that the mixture exhibits higher toxicity than the individual contaminants, compromising plant development under environmentally relevant conditions. It is concluded, therefore, that the simultaneous presence of OCT and BuP in agricultural environments poses a significant ecological risk, with the potential to affect initial crop establishment, agricultural productivity, and the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems.