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Flavoring additives are of great technological importance for the food industry. However, there is little information regarding the toxicological properties of these micro-ingredients, especially at the cellular level. The present study used meristematic root cells of Allium cepa L. to evaluate the toxicity of a liquid, aroma and flavor synthetic chocolate additive, manufactured and widely marketed throughout Brazil and exported to other countries in South America. The flavoring concentrations evaluated were 100.00; 50.00; 25.00; 1.00; 0.50 and 0.25 µL/L, where the highest concentration established was one-hundred times lower than that commercially suggested for use. The concentration 100 µL/L substantially reduced cell division of meristems within 24- and 48-hours exposure. Concentrations from 100.00 to 0.50 µL/L resulted in a significant number of prophases to the detriment of the other phases of cell division, indicating an aneugenic activity, and induced a significant number of cellular changes, with emphasis on micronuclei, nuclear buds and chromosomal breaks. Under the established analysis conditions, with the exception of concentration 0.25 µL/L, the flavoring of chocolate caused cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity to root meristems.

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The Catingueiro, Cristalino and Ligeiro Rivers, present in the eastern region of Cianorte, Paraná, Brazil, are under constant influence of industrial effluents and agrochemicals. In 2022, the public supply of this municipality will be made by waters of the Ligeiro River, and the sites predicted for abstraction are close to the sites of confluence of the Catingueiro River and the Cristalino River with the Ligeiro River. We evaluated in two periods of 2020, based on different parameters, the water quality of the Catingueiro River at two sites, P1 and P2 (P2, upstream of the confluence), the Cristalino River in one site, P3, and the Ligeiro River at two sites, P4 and P5 (P5, downstream of the confluence). Levels of nitrite, nitrate and sulfate in waters were within the range set by law. All points had a high concentration of fluorides and phosphato in the two collections. In P1, in both collections, a high concentration of copper was found.  P1 and P2, in the second collection, presented high levels of aluminum. Silicon was detected at all sites. Waters were phytotoxic to L. sativa and cytotoxic to the root meristems of A. cepa. Physical-chemical and toxicity analyses suggest a compromise in water quality. These data are an alert to the public authorities of Cianorte and Paraná regarding the anthropic actions carried out in these rivers and alert the sanitation company to carry out a preliminary and periodic analysis of the waters in order to know the contaminants present before treating them.