Genotoxicity evaluation using micronucleus test in Rattus norvegicus captured in urban ecosystems of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

TRIPODI, MARIEL; ANDRIOLI NANCY; SUAREZ O.V

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2020

0944-1344

The overall goal of the present study was to evaluate and compare the existence of genotoxic damage caused by different levels of chemical mixtures in R. norvegicus captured in sites along the Matanza Riachuelo river basin (MRRB). For this, thirty-six wild rats (R. norvegicus) were captured from six different sites in the MRRB. Capture sites were characterized with concentrations of 20 parameters in surface water, including concentrations of metals and its soluble state and physicochemical parameters. To evaluate genotoxic damage, the rodent?s bone marrow micronucleus test was performed. For this, the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) was calculated based in the observation of 2,000 polychromatic erythrocites (PCE) per animal. Also, to detect possible cytotoxic effects, the PCE/TE (total erythrocytes) ratio in 1,000 erythrocytes/animal was calculated. The frequency of MNPCE was positively associated with the highest concentration of chrome, lead, copper, biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand. Also, the decrease on PCE/TE ratio in bone marrow was related with increase of practically all metals and physicochemical parameters in surface water. The results of this study reveals that the rats that live in the MRRB were exposed to concentrations of pollutants that can cause genotoxic damage, even though the concentrations of these pollutants are mostly below the safety standards. Therefore, risk assessment with methods that allow integrating all environmental parameters, such as sentinel species, is of paramount importance