Abstract
Anthropic activities as well as land use and occupation are closely linked to water and soil quality. An alternative to assess their influence on water quality in water bodies is through biomonitoring using Allium cepa as a bioindicator organism. This technique allows the detection of cytogenetic abnormalities in Allium cepa root meristematic cells after contact with analyzed water samples. Thus, we evaluated the genotoxic potential of water samples from the Rio das Antas (Antas River) along the urban perimeter of the city of Irati, Paraná, Brazil. With the aid of GeoEye Satellite high-resolution fused orbital images, we searched for possible relationships between the use and occupation of land around this river. Biomonitoring was performed at three different sampling points. Statistical equality between the negative control and Point 1 and between Points 2 and 3 was obtained using Fisher's test and a Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). The former presented a low frequency of abnormalities chromosomes and the latter presented larger averages. In addition, Point 1 had strong influence of tree vegetation. Points 2 and 3, demonstrated a strong influence of urbanized area, with significant degradation of permanent preservation areas (áreas de preservação permanente – (APP). The results showed remarkable anthropogenic interference to the ecosystem. Furthermore, this indicates importance of an APP watercourses functioning to preserve the quality of the water resources.
Highlights
The urbanization process of many Brazilian cities occurred along riverbanks and brought detrimental consequences for bodies of water, the quality of the air, soil, fauna and flora of the region (Fendrich and Oliynik, 2002). Anthropogenic activities such as land use and occupation are factors that interfere with water and soil quality
Another factor of significant relevance is the advancement of technologies and products in the industrial and agricultural sectors, which have helped to bring about the introduction of new chemical agents in the environment, thereby impacting the ecosystem equilibrium (FUNASA, 2002)
After completing the mapping of the study areas, eight classes were defined for land use and occupation, which through cognitive interpretation were more evident
Summary
The urbanization process of many Brazilian cities occurred along riverbanks and brought detrimental consequences for bodies of water, the quality of the air, soil, fauna and flora of the region (Fendrich and Oliynik, 2002). Anthropogenic activities such as land use and occupation are factors that interfere with water and soil quality. Environmental quality monitoring can be performed through conventional physicochemical and microbiological assessments combined with specific assessments to investigate changes in the cellular metabolism of bioindicators. Because of the similarities in the morphology of the chromosomes of eukaryotic organisms (plants and animals), they may respond in an action mode of mutagenic agents (Constantin and Owens, 1982)
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