Allium cepa L. as a bioindicator to measure cytotoxicity of surface water of the Quatorze River, located in Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Due to an increase in water consumption in the industrial sector and within the Brazilian population, surface water that receives wastewater from industries, domestic sewage, agricultural industries, and sewage treatment stations can pollute water bodies when not properly treated. The water quality has been linked to catchment characteristics and intensity of agricultural activities. Thus, the aim of this study was to monitor the cytotoxic potential of the water of the Quatorze River, located in the town of Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil, along its route in the rural area, using the root meristematic cells of Allium cepa L. as a bioindicator. The results showed that the water at points 2, 3, and 4 were not cytotoxic because the rates of A. cepa cell division were unaltered. Point 1 had presented a mitotic index that was statistically larger than the negative control, indicating that this water contained substances with mitogenic capacity, as demonstrated by elevated values in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). However, the mitotic index values decreased along the route of the river (point 1 to point 4), possibly indicating a mechanism of self-purification, despite having received other sources of pollution. Thus, the results of this study show that the water of the Quatorze River should undergo periodic environmental monitoring at different times of the year, including cytotoxicity analysis, to evaluate the principal sources of contamination to maintain the quality of the river water and, consequently, to maintain human health and equilibrium of the entire ecosystem.

Ecotoxicological assessment of irrigation water for vegetables in a watershed region of Greater São Paulo

“…In recent years, various studies testing the system Allium cepa has been conducted in order to evaluate the effects of industrial and domestic effluents into surface waters (Santos et al, 2009 ;Barbosa et al, 2010 ;Bianchi et al, 2011;Nunes et al, 2011;Düsman et al, 2013). Overall, the highest genotoxic activity values for superficial water samples were found in points 2 and 3, suggesting that these points had been compromised to a greater extent due to the presence of genotoxic compounds, a result that was also found in sediment samples.…”

“…Positive results detected by analysis of some parameters in bioassays with higher plants indicate the presence of genotoxic and/or cytotoxic substances in the environment, thus demonstrating a direct or indirect potential risk to living beings that are in contact with it (Fiskesjö, 1994, Bianchi et al, 2011Düsman et al, 2013).…”

Microbiological quality and genotoxic potential of surface water located above the Guarani aquifer

“…The genotoxicity assay was performed according to the protocol described by Düsman et al (2014). The reading (counting of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei) of the slides was made with optical microscope at 4009 magnification.…”

“…Some authors have recommended the use of A. cepa for the quality screening of surface water because it has a high sensitivity; is cheap, rapid, and easy to handle (Rank and Nielsen 1994;Düsman et al 2014).…”

Untitled

“…Uma das primeiras análises utilizando Allium cepa foi realizada por Levan (1938), quando os efeitos da colchicina foram investigados. Desde então, o teste vem sendo utilizado em avaliações ambientais, por exemplo, de amostras de águas de lagos (GRISOLIA et al, 2005;BARBOSA, 2008) e de rios (CASTRO E SOUSA et al, 2017;DÜSMAN et al, 2014;SILVA & NASCIMENTO, 2013;CIRCUNVIS et al, 2012;FERREIRA et al, 2012;BIANCHI et al, 2011;ME-NEGUETTI et al, 2011;MENDES et al, 2011;OLIVEI-RA et al, 2011;MANZANO, 2010;PERON et al, 2009;MASCHIO et al, 2009;LEME & MARIN-MORALES, 2008;CARITÁ & MARIN-MORALES, 2008;EGITO et al, 2007;AMARAL et al, 2007;MATSU-MOTO & MARIN-MORALES, 2005).…”