Assessment of toxic potential of phytoremediated vinasse using the fat body of Rhinocricus padbergi (Diplopoda)

Abstract

The vinasse is a major waste resulting from the processing of sugarcane into ethanol and, because of the volume generated, researchers are seeking an appropriate destination for this effluent. As an alternative to its reuse, fertigation in sugarcane crop is the most used. However, its increasing use as fertilizer has generated great concern due to the adverse effects observed. In this sense, many technologies have emerged with the aim of treating vinasse and decrease its toxic potential for the environment. Among the methodologies are the Built Systems Wetlands, which have macrophytes responsible for accumulating pollutants directly into your tissues and act as catalysts for purification reactions. Thus, studies evaluating the effects on living organisms of treated vinasse by these technologies are necessary and prudent. For this purpose, soil invertebrates, such as millipedes, are among the most suitable organisms to evaluate the effects of toxic substances in the soil. In these animals, morphologic changes in different organs are used as biomarkers once they can metabolize and / or accumulate various metals. So, this project aims to evaluate the toxicity of vinasse after phytoremediation, by histological and histochemical tests to analyze possible changes in the perivisceral fat body of the millipede Rhinocricus padbergi. (AU)