Ecogenotoxicity of environmentally relevant atrazine concentrations: A threat to aquatic bioindicators

• Published in: Pesticide biochemistry and physiology Vol. 189; p. 105297
• Main Authors: Souza, Victor Ventura de, Souza, Tatiana da Silva, Campos, José Marcello Salabert de, Oliveira, Luiza Araújo de, Ribeiro, Yves Moreira, Hoyos, Daniela Chemin de Melo, Xavier, Rogéria Maura Panzini, Charlie-Silva, Ives, Lacerda, Samyra Maria dos Santos Nassif
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Animals; Atrazine - toxicity; Cytogenotoxicity; Development; Environmental Biomarkers; Herbicide; Herbicides - toxicity; Humans; Reproduction; Surface water; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Zebrafish; Development; Reproduction; Herbicide; Surface water; Cytogenotoxicity
• ISSN: 0048-3575; 1095-9939
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105297

Atrazine (ATZ) is a herbicide that is frequently present in surface waters and may result in damage to the health of various organisms, including humans. However, most scientific literature reports injuries caused by ATZ at high concentrations, which are not found in the environment. Therefore, the scope of this study was to investigate the impacts of realistic concentrations of ATZ found in surface waters (1, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 μg/L) using the bioindicators Allium cepa, Daphnia magna and zebrafish (Danio rerio). ATZ elicited a genotoxic effect in A. cepa, manifested by the induction of chromosomal aberrations, and a mutagenic effect with increased incidence of micronuclei formation, promotion of cell death and reduction in nuclear size revealed by flow cytometry analysis. D. magna exposed to 10, 15 and 20 μg/L of ATZ showed significant reduction in body size after 21 days, delayed first-brood release, decreased egg production and total offspring, as well as swimming behavioral changes. ATZ exposure promoted physiological and developmental alterations in zebrafish embryos, including an increased spontaneous movement rate, which led to premature hatching at all concentrations investigated. Increase in total body length, decrease of the yolk sac area, pericardial edema and higher heart rate were also detected in ATZ-treated zebrafish. In summary, environmentally relevant concentrations of ATZ can induce substantial alterations in the three bioindicators investigated. This study evidences the deleterious effects of ATZ on three aquatic bioindicators employing established and current techniques, and may contribute to elucidate the risks caused by this widely used herbicide even at low concentrations and short-to-medium-term exposure. [Display omitted] •Chromosomal aberrations and cell death in meristematic cells of the Allium cepa.•Alterations in reproduction and neurotoxicity in Daphnia magna.•Acute exposure to atrazine alters the physiology of zebrafish embryos.•In silica, the use of atrazine strongly interacts with CYP family proteins.