Characterization and neurotoxicity assessment of winery wastewaters after advanced oxidation treatment using hippocampal slices

Winery effluents present an environmental challenge due to their variability and high organic and inorganic content, complicating treatment and discharge. Conventional treatments are often inadequate, maintaining environmental standards. Advanced oxidation processes, such as the Fenton reaction, have shown potential in reducing organic pollution, but the health-related impacts of winery effluents and their treatment remain poorly understood. This study characterized winery wastewaters and evaluated the neurotoxic potential of untreated and Fenton-treated sparkling wine wastewaters (SWW) in mammalian brain slices. Short (30 min) and long-term (1 h) exposures were assessed by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-linked autofluorescence. Comparative analyses were performed with two additional winery wastewaters (WW1 and WW2). SWW reduced autofluorescence by 10–13% and induced a slight ROS increase only after 1 h. Fenton treatment reduced autofluorescence by 18–22% and ROS by 8% only after 1 h, reflecting a reduction in biological activity and oxidative stress. WW1 and WW2 showed higher ROS after long-term exposure, with similar autofluorescence and ROS trends. Fenton treatment reduced ROS by 9% in long-term exposure and autofluorescence by 10–13% in both periods. These effects were associated with inorganic composition changes, particularly calcium and potassium ions. These findings demonstrate that autofluorescence is more sensitive to effluent exposure than ROS and that longer exposures are required to detect treatment-related oxidative stress. Neurotoxicity assays complement traditional water quality indicators, providing insights into environmental and health impacts of winery wastewater and the efficacy of Fenton treatment.