Genotoxic analysis in aquatic environment under influence of cyanobacteria, metal and radioactivity

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 81; no. 6; pp. 773 - 780
• Main Authors: Marcon, Alexandre Endres, Ferreira, Douglisnilson de Morais, Moura, Maria de Fátima Vitória de, Campos, Thomas Ferreira da Costa, Amaral, Viviane Souza do, Agnez-Lima, Lucymara Fassarella, Batistuzzo de Medeiros, Sílvia Regina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Assaying; Battery; Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Brackish; Cichlids - physiology; Cyanobacteria; Cyanobacteria - classification; Cyanobacteria - growth & development; Cyanobacteria - isolation & purification; Cyanobacterium; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Monitoring; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Genotoxicity; Metal; Metals - analysis; Metals - metabolism; Metals - toxicity; Micronucleus Tests; Microorganisms; Mutagens - analysis; Mutagens - metabolism; Mutagens - toxicity; Oreochromis niloticus; Radioactivity; Radiocontamination; Seasons; Superficial water; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis; Water Pollutants, Radioactive - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Radioactive - toxicity; Water quality; Water supplies; Cyanobacterium; Metal; Superficial water; Genotoxicity; Radioactivity; Aquatic environment; Radioactive pollution; Ecotoxicology; Toxicity; Cyanobacteria; Bacteria; Radioactivity measurement
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.07.006

The micronucleus (MN) and nuclear abnormality (NA) tests were employed to evaluate the genotoxic potential of the Lucrecia dam (RN, Brazil) located in a semi-arid region and influenced by crop irrigation and irregular rainfall. The analyses of these water samples demonstrated the presence of several cyanobacteria as well as metals and radioactivity. The Nile Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus) was used for micronucleus and nuclear abnormality assays and analysis of metal concentrations in gills and liver samples. Genotoxic assays in source water fish showed a significant increase in the frequency of nuclear damage (MN and NA) in relation to the negative control group. In conclusion, the results obtained with water surface and biological samples from the Lucrecia dam suggest that this important water resource contains a number of chemical and microbiological pollutants with genotoxic potential and that these substances may be compromising the species inhabiting this ecosystem. Particular care must be taken to prevent further degradation of this water supply. Capsule: A battery of assay was successfully applied to assess the water quality of Lucrecia dam from a Northeastern region of Brazil.