Abstract
Streams Mandacaru, Maringa, Miosotis and Nazareth in the urban area of Maringa, Estado do Parana, Brazil are affected by the local population's polluting practices. Meristemic cells of Allium cepa L. roots were used as test system to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of the streams' water. Onion roots were prepared by Feulgen reaction and stained with Schiff's reagent. Statistical analysis of the mitotic index was undertaken with the chi-square test. Results did not show significant cytotoxic effect of water samples. Results may dependent on climate variations, concentration of harmful substances, and on the time and samples sites evaluated. A deeper awareness of the population should be underscored for the proper use, preservation and maintenance of soil and water, with particular emphasis to this region.
Highlights
Increase in human population and an accelerated industrialization process have caused unprecedented changes in water quality
This study evaluated the cytotoxic potential of waters from streams Mandacaru, Maringá, Miosótis and Nazareth by the test system of meristemic cells of Allium cepa L. root through cell division rates
The A. cepa test, which uses the meristemic cells of onion roots, determines the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of various substances and is a standard procedure for rapid tests in detecting toxins and pollutant levels in the environment
Summary
Increase in human population and an accelerated industrialization process have caused unprecedented changes in water quality. Environmentalists have recently been warning on water waste and contamination caused by deforestation, pollutants, the release of debris in a greater amount than the river’s speed and capacity to break them up, and by mining discharges which dilute the hazardous elements and heavy metals, such as mercury, lead and zinc (MORAES; JORDÃO, 2002). Brazil has 12% of all fresh water on Earth, with an immense wealth of surface water courses and underground water. Biological Sciences northwestern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, lies 596 m above sea level, at 23o25'S and 51°57'W. Several streams, running within its urban area, discharge water into the river Pirapó which, in turn, supplies the population with fresh water (BORSATO; MARTONI, 2004)
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