Water Quality and Toxicological Impact Assessment Using the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans Bioassay in a Long-Term Intensive Agricultural Area

CLAVIJO, ARACELI; KRONBERG, MARÍA FLORENCIA; MUNARRIZ, ELIANA R.; CALVO, DANIEL; PAGANO, EDUARDO ANTONIO; ROSSEN, ARIANA; MOYA, ALDANA; CLAVIJO, ARACELI; KRONBERG, MARÍA FLORENCIA; MUNARRIZ, ELIANA R.; CALVO, DANIEL; PAGANO, EDUARDO ANTONIO; ROSSEN, ARIANA; MOYA, ALDANA

WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlín; Año: 2017 vol. 228 p. 333 - 349

0049-6979

Due to intensive agricultural activities tomeet the growing needs for food, large volumes of waterare consumed and an increasing amount of agrochemicals are released into the environment threatening theaquatic ecosystem. In order to ensure a sustainableagricultural management, it is crucial to develop anintegrated water assessment plan that includes not onlywater quantity and quality but also toxicological assessments. The Pergamino River basin (province of BuenosAires, Argentina) was selected as a representative caseof study to monitor and assess the impact of both thelong-term intensification of soybean production andfast-growing urban development on surface and groundwater sources. Physicochemical analyses and a WaterQuality Index were determined and showed that waterquality falls into the marginal category, compromisingthe irrigation purposes and threatening aquatic life.Glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid were detected at least once in all sites. Caenorhabditis eleganstoxic bioassays were performed and a toxicological ranking was developed. This analysis proved to be useful todetect toxicity even when water parameters met regulatory requirements and water quality seemed to be satisfactory. This research constitutes a valuable model to bereplicated in other river basins that have been impactedby intensive agriculture and growing urban developmentin order to assess water quality conditions and ensuresound water resources management.