Avaliação da segurança ambiental de produtos derivados do líquido da casca da castanha de caju técnico (LCCt) propostos para o combate do Aedes aegypti (Diptera: culicidae)

Abstract

The development of new insecticides and/or strategies to control Aedes aegypti is an important to public health, and it is therefore essential to assess whether these potential larvicides are environmentally safe for non-target species. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental safety of the Emusion (Technical Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (TCNSL) + Sodium Sulfonate Technical Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (NatCNSLS)) and its isolated constituents (TCNSL and NatCNSLS). For this, ecotoxicological, genotoxic and mutagenic assays were performed in different non-target organisms. Concerning the tocixity, Daphnia similis was the organism that presented the highest sensitivity to the three evaluated products, followed by Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Oreochromis niloticus. Regarding the tested products, the TCNSL was the one that presented the highest toxicity for the three organisms. Emulsion presented phytotoxicity to Allium cepa only in the highest concentration. However, no genotoxic and mutagenic effects were observed in the A. cepa, O. niloticus and Salmonella microsome assays. Based on the results, we conclude that although Emulsion has shown toxicity to non-target organisms, toxic concentrations of this product in the environment are unlikely to be found due to its dispersion, dilution and environmental degradation. In addition, Emulsion may be considered less toxic than other WHO recommended larvicides in the species evaluated. Thus, Emulsion is an effective product for larval control and has multifunctionality and can be considered a new strategy for vector control such as A. aegypti.