Cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of surface water from the Pitimbu river, northeastern/RN Brazil

Lucila Carmem Monte Egito,Silvia Regina Batistuzzo De Medeiros,Maria Das Graças Medeiros,Lucymara Fassarella Agnez-Lima

doi:10.1590/s1415-47572007000300023

Lucila Carmem Monte Egito, Silvia Regina Batistuzzo De Medeiros + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1415-47572007000300023

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Abstract

In this study, the onion (Allium cepa) root test was used to evaluate the genotoxicity of the Pitimbu River (Natal city, Brazil) surface water. The water was collected at five sampling sites along the river and one sample was obtained after the treatment (flocculation, chlorination and pH correction) of the river water for human consumption. All raw river water samples increased the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities and/or micronuclei and two of the water samples produced alterations in the mitotic index of the root cells. Two of the water samples also altered root growth and two produced morphological modifications in the A. cepa roots. Water collected from a site near an industrial area was the most consistently toxic and genotoxic of the samples. Although the water chlorinated for human consumption was not genotoxic, the data indicate that surface water from the Pitimbu River contains toxic and genotoxic compounds that potentially may impact this aquatic ecosystem.

Highlights

Urban-industrial and agricultural wastes can add significant amounts of contaminants to surface water and sediments and, water pollution is a serious problem for the health of the biota and humans that interact with these aquatic ecosystems
The observed exposure-response relationship indicated a relative risk for lymphomas, pancreatic cancer and esophageal cancer compared with areas in which non-mutagenic drinking water was consumed (Koivusalo et al, 1995; Tao et al, 1999)
Due to its lack of turbidity and color, no coagulation is used in processing the water during the dry period (September to april) At Macaiba, the Pitimbu River passes through an agricultural area, while at Parnamirim, it passes through an important industrial area of RGN state

Summary

Introduction

Urban-industrial and agricultural wastes can add significant amounts of contaminants to surface water and sediments and, water pollution is a serious problem for the health of the biota and humans that interact with these aquatic ecosystems. Many types of genotoxicity and mutagenicity assays employing microorganisms and mammalian cells have used for monitoring of complex environmental samples such as river water (Verschaeve, 2002; Isidori et al, 2004; Reinecke and Reinecke, 2004; Russo et al, 2004). Plant assays, such as the Allium cepa test, may have some advantages over microbial and mammalian cell tests for environmental monitoring. Treated drinking water derived from one of the sites was tested

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