Genotoxicity and mutagenicity of water samples from a rural area of the Pampean Region (Argentina)

FABRIZIO DE IORIO, A; DE CABO, LI; ANAHÍ MAGDALENO; MORETTON, J; BOLLANI, S; WEINGADT, C; CHAGAS, C

Campinas

Congreso; 18th International Symposium on Toxicity Assessment; 2017

ART

The Pampa Region (Argentina) is a large plain of fertile land suitable for agriculture and livestock. Fertilizers and animal manure, which are both rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, are the primary sources of nutrient pollution in the aquatic ecosystems. Rural activities also produce a large variety of pollutants, such as herbicides, veterinary pharmaceuticals, hormones and heavy metals, causing environmental concern due to the harmful effects on non-target organisms. The aim of this work was to assess the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of water samples from a rural area of Buenos Aires (Argentina) using the Allium cepa test. Water samples were collected in a drainage channel in March, June and December. Quantitative analysis of nutrients (P and N), metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) and glyphosate was performed. The A. cepa test was performed using onion seeds. Distilled water was used as negative control. It was measured the mitotic index (MI), and frequencies of chromosome aberrations (CA) and micronucleus (MN) by counting a minimum of 5 slides and 5000 cells. The maximum concentrations of N-NH4+, N-NO2+ and P-PO43- were 13.5, 0.14 and 10.66 mg L-1, respectively, showing eutrophic characteristics. The maximum concentrations of metals (Cu=0.012, Pb=0.041, Zn=0.044 mg L-1) and glyphosate (0,014 mg L-1) were not genotoxic to A. cepa. However, all sampling sites showed statistically high MN frequencies in June, when the minimum rainfall occurred. The results showed that the complex mixture of xenobiotics in these surface waters could produce synergistic effects in living organisms. A. cepa showed to be a useful tool for the detection of mutagenicity in water samples from rural areas.