GENOTOXICITY AND CYTOTOXICITY OF WATER FROM POTRERO DE LOS FUNES RIVER, SAN LUIS, ARGENTINA.

GALLARDO LV, JOFRÉ M, CANGIANO A

Merlo, San Luis

Congreso; XXXV Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2018

Universidad Nacional de San Luis

Potrero de los Funes River in San Luis, Argentina, has been extensively studied regarding water contamination, but the degree of citotoxicity and genotoxicity of their waters is not known. The aim of this study was to assess citotoxicity and genotoxicity of water from sites with different degree of water quality, in high waters (HW, may) and low waters (LW, august) periods, of Potrero de los Funes River, through analysis of effect biomarkers in Allium cepa L. apical meristems. Water samples were collected in different sites of the river. Physical-chemical water quality, toxicity, citotoxicity and genotoxicity were analyzed. All the sites in both periods shown signs of anthropogenic perturbation. There was a positive relationship between root length and phosphate concentration in water samples (Correlation coefficient = 0.85 y p < 0.05). Mitotic index was significantly higher in HW period (p = 0,001) and was significantly different between sites in both periods (HW: p= 0.0001; LW: p = 0.003). Differences in phase index between sites were statistically significant (p = 0.0001) in the HW period and not significant in the LW period. Chromosomal aberrations were observed in the genotoxicity analysis; they were more frequent during HW period (p = 0.001). The results of this study shown the presence of substances that induce cell cycle alterations and clastogenic and aneugenic damages, indicating that Potrero de los Funes River has a potential risk of cell level contamination.