Daniela Leme

• PhD
• Professor at Federal University of Paraná

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are nanomaterials with several potential applications in nanotechnology-based products, and their renewable origin and biodegradability property have attracted attention in sustainable product development; however, their environmental impacts still need to be fully understood as other nanoparticles. In this study, CNFs o...

Phthalates, such as di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di-isopentyl phthalate (DiPeP), are pollutants with a high potential for endocrine disruption. This study aimed to evaluate parameters of endocrine disruption in specimens of the Neotropical fish Rhamdia quelen exposed to DBP and DiPeP through their food. After 30 days of exposure, the fish were an...

Diisopentyl phthalate (DiPeP) is primarily used as a plasticizer or additive within the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and has many additional industrial applications. Its metabolites were recently found in urinary samples of pregnant women; thus, this substance is of concern as relates to human exposure. Depending upon the nature of the a...

Previous studies in Doce river basin (Brazil) seem to be contradictory regarding the contamination of soils with potentially harmful elements (PHE). This research aimed to perform an integrated assessment of PHE in the soil-plant-tailing system from the area most impacted by the iron waste, after the Fundão Dam disaster in 2015. Different fractions...

One of the major challenges in chemical toxicity testing is the possibility to protect human health against adverse effects with non-animal methods. In this paper, 4-Octylphenol (OP) was tested for skin sensitization and immunomodulatory effects using an integrated in silico-in vitro test approach. In silico tools (QSAR TOOLBOX 4.5, ToxTree and VEG...

The cosmetic industry has been committed to promoting less hazardous products to reduce the environmental impacts of cosmetic ingredients. This requires identifying safer cosmetic ingredients for developing cosmetic formulations that are less harmful to the environment. However, one of the challenges in developing eco-friendly cosmetics relies on i...

Alkylphenols ethoxylates are industrial surfactants, and the release in the environmental matrices produces degraded products, of which nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) were the most common. They can be classified as endocrine disruptors since the estrogenic potential is widely recognized, but some others toxic aspects are in discussion. This...

The textile industry extensively uses synthetic chemicals such as dyes. Several studies report the deleterious effects (e.g., cell death and DNA damage) of dispersive dyes on humans. Humans can be exposed to toxic dyes by ingesting contaminated waters or dermal contact with colored garments. Thus, toxicity evaluations of textile dyes using organ-sp...

Aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH) is a major aerosol component frequently used as the active ingredient in antiperspirants, and in vivo studies have raised a concern about its inhalation toxicity. Still, few studies have addressed its effects on the human respiratory tract. Therefore, we developed a study on ACH inhalation toxicity using an in vitro hum...

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) from seaweeds are potential bioactive natural compounds, but their DNA protective activity is poorly explored. This article aimed to evaluate the genotoxic/antigenotoxic potentials of a sulfated heterofucan from brown seaweed Spatoglossum schröederi (Fucan A – FA) and a sulfated galactan from green seaweed Codium isth...

Melanoma is a type of tumor that originates from melanocytes. Irradiation of melanin with UVA and visible light can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet molecular oxygen (1O2). The objective of this study was to examine DNA damage in melanoma cells (B16‐F10) with different melanin contents, subjected to 1O2 generation. To this end,...

Resistance to glyphosate herbicide has initiated usage of combined application of herbicides as a weed control measure. Imazethapyr-based herbicides associated with glyphosate herbicide seem to be an alternative to suppress weed resistance. The aim of this study was to examine the adverse effects of Glyphosate Atanor 48® (ATN) and Imazethapyr Plus...

The skin is an immune-competent organ and this function may be impaired by exposure to chemicals, which may ultimately result in immune-mediated dermal disorders. Interindividual variability to chemical-induced skin immune reactions is associated with intrinsic individual characteristics and their genomes. In the last 30–40 years, several genes inf...

A Educação Científica, por meio de atividades e práticas educacionais, pode ser utilizada para levar o conhecimento científico para alunos da educação básica. A abordagem de temas relacionados a sustentabilidade e a contaminação ambiental pode contribuir diretamente para a nossa qualidade de vida e para o desenvolvimento sustentável. Nesse sentido,...

Fish cell spheroids are promising 3D culture models for vertebrate replacement in ecotoxicology. However, new alternative ecotoxicological methods must be adapted for applications in industry and for regulatory purposes; such methods must be cost-effective, simple to manipulate and provide rapid results. Therefore, we compared the effectiveness of...

Since organic flame retardants (FRs) have several industrial applications, they have been largely detected in environmental and biological samples, and humans have been highly exposed to them. Although the effects of oral and inhaled FRs have been well studied, dermal exposure to them has only recently been pointed out as a potential route of human...

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are primarily studied regarding endocrine-mediated effects in mammals and fish. However, EDCs can cause toxicity by mechanisms outside the endocrine system, and, as they are released continuously into soils, they may pose risks to terrestrial organisms. In this work, the plant Allium cepa and the earthworm Eise...

Resumo: Os conteúdos de Genética são apontados por alunos e professores de Biologia entre os mais complexos do Ensino Médio. Este artigo tem como proposta descrever a elaboração e avaliar o potencial e as eventuais limitações de um curso de formação continuada em Genética para professores de Biologia, visando minimizar as dificuldades de ensino-apr...

Esta atividade facilita a visualização das diferenças nas proporções genotípicas e fenotípicas dos indivíduos nos cinco diferentes tipos de interações alélicas relacionados à herança monogênica autossômica: dominância completa, dominância incompleta, codominância, alelos letais e alelos múltiplos. Durante a atividade, os estudantes participam da co...

Dermal contact is the main route of exposure for most cosmetics; however, inhalation exposure could be significant for some formulations (e.g., aerosols, powders). Current cosmetic regulations do not require specific tests addressing respiratory irritation and sensitisation, and despite the prohibition of animal testing for cosmetics, no alternativ...

Lignin is a complex phenolic biopolymer present in plant cell walls and a by-product of the cellulose pulping industry. Lignin has functional properties, such as antioxidant activity, that make it a potential natural active ingredient for health-care products. However, not all safety aspects of lignin fractions have been adequately investigated. He...

Thymol (THY), a monoterpene phenol, is used as a natural biocide. To circumvent its chemical instability, we have proposed THY‐loaded biogenic silica nanoparticle (BSiO2#THY); however, the toxicity of this system for aquatic organisms is unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the toxicogenetic effects induced by THY, BSiO2 nanoparticle (NP), a...

The aquatic ecosystems are susceptible to cyanobacterial blooms due to the eutrophication of water bodies caused by human activities. In this study, phytoplankton and cyanotoxins analysis, as well as cellular and genetic biomarkers of toxicity (Allium cepa test - higher plant test system), were evaluated in water samples of Alagados Reservoir durin...

The aquatic ecosystems are susceptible to cyanobacterial blooms due to the eutrophication of water bodies caused by human activities. In this study, phytoplankton and cyanotoxins analysis, as well as cellular and genetic biomarkers of toxicity (Allium cepa test-higher plant test system), were evaluated in water samples of Alagados Reservoir during...

O letramento científico refere-se à capacidade dos alunos de compreender, interpretar, refletir e transformar o mundo a partir do conhecimento científico. No entanto, a Educação Básica Brasileira tem uma abordagem limitada da Educação Científica. Dessa forma, é preciso buscar alternativas para que os estudantes compreendam a metodologia científica,...

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in consumer products due to their antibacterial property; however, their potential toxicity and release into the environment raises concern. Based on the limited understanding of AgNPs aggregation behavior, this study aimed to investigate the toxicity of uncoated (uc-AgNP) and coated with polyvinylpyrrol...

Personal care products, such as sunscreen UV filters, can profoundly impact aquatic ecosystems, raising concerns about their sustainability. Therefore, enhancing and promoting eco-friendly products in cosmetic industry requires robust methods for assessing the environmental impacts. In vitro screening assays have been proposed as key components of...

Pyroligneous acid (PA) is a by-product of bio-oil, which is obtained by pyrolysis of the wood. This product has been tested for use in several areas, such as agriculture, as a promising green herbicide; however, there are few scientific data regarding its environmental impacts. For this study, an ecotoxicity testing battery, composed of Daphnia mag...

Nail polish has been widely used around the world. However, the hazards of nail polishes discarded in the environment are still poorly investigated. Thus, the toxicogenetic effects of solubilized (SE) and leached (LE) extracts from nail polishes were investigated, simulating their disposal on water and landfill, respectively, and identifying their...

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) are widely used and may impact the environment. Thus, this study used a high concentration of TiO2NP (1000 mg/L) to verify the defense mechanisms triggered by a plant system – an indicator of toxicity. Furthermore, this study aimed at completely characterizing TiO2NP suspensions to elucidate their toxic beha...

Glyphosate (GLY) is the active ingredient of several herbicide formulations widely used to control weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural areas. Due to the intensive use of GLY-based herbicides and their direct application on soils, some of their components, including the active ingredient, may reach the aquatic environment through direct run-o...

Nano-engineered delivery systems have emerged as possible solutions for more efficient pest management in agriculture. Likewise for nanostructured drug delivery systems (DDS) in medicine, the use of biocide delivery systems (BDS) brought concerns on their toxicology on non-targeted organisms. Plants, for instance, are the foundation of the ecosyste...

Genotoxic effects of nanomaterials (NMs) have been controversially reported in literature, and the mode of action (MoA) via DNA oxidation is cited as the main damage caused by them. Evidence of nano-silver as a crosslinker has been previously reported by the present research team in an in vivo fish genotoxicity study. Thus, aiming to confirm the ev...

Mesotrione (MES) is an herbicide from the triketone family and has been used as an alternative to Atrazine (ATZ), which was banned in some countries due to its toxicity to non-target organisms. Despite being considered an eco-friendly herbicide, data from the literature about the harmful effects of MES in its pure form and/or in combination with ot...

The textile dyeing industry is one of the main sectors contributing to environmental pollution, due to the generation of large amounts of wastewater loaded with dyes (ca. 2-50% of the initial amount of dyes used in the dye baths is lost), causing severe impacts on human health and the environment. In this context, an ecotoxicity testing battery was...

Several synthetic dyes are used by textile industry for supplying the market of colored clothes. However, these chemicals have been associated with a variety of adverse human health effects, including textile dermatitis. Thus, there is a growing concern to identify textile dyes potentially as skin immunotoxicants. The aim of this in vitro study was...

Nanotechnologies are at the center of societal interest, due to their broad spectrum of application in different industrial products. The current concern about nanomaterials (NMs) is the potential risks they carry for human health and the environment. Considering that NMs can reach bodies of water, there is a need for studying the toxic effects of...

Thousands of dyes are marketed daily for different purposes, including textile dyeing. However, there are several studies reporting attributing to dyes deleterious human effects such as DNA damage. Humans may be exposed to toxic dyes through either ingestion of contaminated waters or dermal contact with colored garments. With respect to dermal expo...

Contamination of natural waters has been one of the major problems of modern society and the textile industry is rated as an important polluting source, due to the generation of large amounts of wastewaters. The aim of this study was to assess textile dyes Reactive Blue 19 (RB19, anthraquinone dye) and Reactive Red 120 (RR120, azo dye) in terms of...

Biodiesel production has received considerable attention in the recent past as a nonpolluting fuel. However, this assertion has been based on its biodegradability and reduction in exhaust emissions. Assessments of water and soil biodiesel pollution are still limited. Spill simulation with biodiesel and their diesel blends in soils were carried out,...

The designation of biodiesel as an environmental-friendly alternative to diesel oil has improved its commercialization and use. However, most biodiesel environmental safety studies refer to air pollution and so far there have been very few literature data about its impacts upon other biotic systems, e.g. water, and exposed organisms. Spill simulati...

The designation of biodiesel as a green fuel has increased its commercialization and use, making its fate in the environment a matter of concern. Fuel spills constitute a major source of aquatic pollution and, like diesel spills, biodiesel can produce adverse effects on aquatic environments, animals and humans. The present study assessed cytotoxic...

The hylid frog genus Scinax is the most species-rich within Hylinae, with more than 100 recognized species grouped in the S. catharinae and S. ruber clades. The karyotypes of 14 species of the S. catharinae clade and 14 of the S. ruber clade were analyzed, several of them for the first time. All studied species presented 2n = 2x = 24 biarmed chromo...

Higher plants are recognized as excellent genetic models to detect environmental mutagens and are frequently used in monitoring studies. Among the plant species, Alium cepa has been used to evaluate DNA damages, such as chromosome aberrations and disturbances in the mitotic cycle. Employing the A. cepa as a test system to detect mutagens dates back...

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the most important, abundant and dangerous class of persistent organic contaminants found in air, water, food and waste sites. The great concern with this class of pollutants is due to the fact that these chemicals cause various deleterious effects, which could jeopardize the genome of exposed orga...

Palavras-chave: mutagenicidade, efluente industrial, refinaria, Allium cepa. Introdução A utilização sustentável do meio ambiente tem sido questão de destaque para muitas indústrias, principalmente as do setor petroquímico, uma vez que suas atividades causam impactos desde a extração até o refino de seus produtos. Dentre os ambientes afetados, o me...

Chromosomal aberration (CA) assays have been widely used, not only to assess the genotoxic effects of chemical agents, but also to evaluate their action mechanisms on the genetic material of exposed organisms. This is of particular interest, since such analyses provide a better knowledge related to the action of these agents on DNA. Among test orga...

In the present study, we applied Chromosome Aberration (CA) and Micronucleus (MN) tests to Allium cepa root cells, in order to evaluate the water quality of Guaecá river. This river, located in the city of São Sebastião, SP, Brazil, had been affected by an oil pipeline leak. Chemical analyses of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs) and Polycyclic Ar...