Abstract
We assessed the cytotoxicity of ten compounds, six compounds considered emerging contaminants (acetaminophen, acetamiprid, clofibric acid, amoxicillin, caffeine and carbamazepine) and four derivatives of the cork industry (dinitrophenol, gallic acid, ellagic acid and tannic). These compounds are present in effluent and affluent treatment plants wastewater. The cytotoxicity assay was performed with the 3T3 cell line. Concentrations assayed were 0.98; 1.9; 3.9; 7.8; 15.6; 31.2; 62.5 and 125.0 mg/L, for all compounds studied. After 24 hours of contact of cells with test solutions the reactive Resazurin was added and the fluorescence emission was read at 3 hours. The results indicate that emerging contaminants not affect cell viability; however, of four compounds from cork industry, only the dinitrophenol was a clear effect on cell viability at the three higher assay concentrations. Furthermore, mixtures of the emerging contaminants and mixtures of the cork derivatives caused 100% inhibition of cell proliferation.
