Genotoxic assessment on river water using different biological systems.

Area of Science:

• Environmental toxicology
• Ecotoxicology
• Genetics

Background:

• The Sinos River in southern Brazil faces severe pollution from shoe, leather, petrochemical, and metallurgy industries.
• This intense anthropic influence impacts water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
• Understanding the genotoxic and toxicological profile of the river is crucial for environmental management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the genotoxicity and toxicity of Sinos River water samples.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts and Allium cepa tests in detecting pollution-induced effects.
• To identify the sources and extent of river contamination.

Main Methods:

• Water samples were collected from five sites along the Sinos River during winter and spring 2006.
• In vitro assays included V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts for cytotoxicity, comet assay, and micronucleus test.
• Allium cepa (onion) test was used for toxicity and micronucleus analysis.

Main Results:

• Water samples exhibited significant cytotoxic, toxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects across all tested sites and collection periods.
• Both organic and inorganic pollutants were identified as contributing to the observed toxicity.
• Domestic and industrial toxic discharges were confirmed as primary pollution sources.

Conclusions:

• The V79 and Allium cepa assays are effective tools for detecting toxicity and genotoxicity in complex environmental mixtures.
• The Sinos River is demonstrably impacted by industrial and urban discharges, requiring urgent attention.
• Continuous environmental monitoring is essential in areas with significant industrial pollution and urban sewage.