DNA Damage of Caffeine in the Cichlid Fish Australoheros facetus as a Tool for Genotoxicity Risk Assessment in Latin America Aquatic Ecosystems

LAVARELLO FRANCISCO; CALDERÓN GABRIELA; ITURBURU FERNANDO GASTÓN; MENONE MIRTA LUJÁN

Congreso; SETAC 11th Annual Young Environmental Scientist Meeting; 2022

Caffeine is a chemical compound present in a wide variety of food and pharmaceutical products, and it has been reported in aquatic ecosystems all around the world. Due to its ubiquity and the possibility of triggering effects on aquatic biota, it is considered as a contaminant of emerging concern. The present work aims on evaluating DNA damage caused by caffeine exposure on the Neotropical fish species Australoheros facetus, in order to assess the genotoxicity risk in Latin America Aquatic Ecosystems. For this purpose, an acute bioassay was settled, exposing fish of this species to 0 (negative control), 0.4, 4, 40 and 400 ug/L of caffeine during 48 h. After exposure, blood samples were taken and DNA damage was evaluated in red cells through single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Fish exposed to 400 ug/L showed an increase of DNA damage (p GRI ≥ 0.1: “possible risk”, GRI < 0.1: “negligible risk”. Results were displayed in risk maps employing Geographic Information Systems through the QGIS Software. While GRImean showed a “high risk” in 8 % and “possible risk” in 15 % of them, GRImax showed “high risk” in 10 % and “possible risk” in 19 % of the sites. Since DNA damage could trigger transgenerational effects, we consider that studies taking into account this effect must be considered in ecological risk assessment. Moreover, it is necessary to validate our results with genotoxicity data from other species. Finally, the present study highlights the possible risks of caffeine in aquatic ecosystems from Latin America.