In Situ Monitoring of the Mutagenic Effects of the Gaseous Emissions of a Solid Waste Incinerator in Metropolitan São Paulo, Brazil, Using the Tradescantia Stamen-Hair Assay

Abstract

The present work was designed to determine the potential genotoxicity at the vicinity of a solid waste incinerator in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, using the Tradescantia stamen-hair bioassay. Experiments were carried out between December 1998 and April 1999 in four regions (40 pots of plants per site) selected on the basis of their pollution levels predicted by theoretical modeling of the dispersion of the incinerator's plume. The exposure sites were defined as follows: highest level (incinerator); a high level (museum) located 1.5 km from the emission point; a moderate level (school, at a distance of 3.5 km from the incinerator); and a control (at Jaguariúna countryside). The difference in genotoxicity among the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The frequency of mutations observed in the countryside was significantly lower [2.25 ± 1.55, mean ± SD (standard deviation)] than that of the sites close to the incinerator. The frequency of mutations measured at the school (3.70 ± 1.36) was significantly lower than that measured at both the museum (4.89 ± 1.12) and the incinerator (5.69 ± 1.34). In conclusion, we found a positive correlation between the spatial distribution of the emissions of the incinerator located in an urban area and the mutagenic events measured by the Tradescantia stamenhair assay. The in situ approach employed in this study was simple, efficient, and of low cost. No air or chemical extraction of pollutants was necessary for genotoxicity testing as required by other assays.

In situ monitoring of mutagenicity of air pollutants in São Paulo City using Tradescantia-SHM bioassay

“…Literature has documented the fact that atmospheric pollution resulting from point sources such as industries and waste incinerators (Ferreira et al, 2000), or from mobile sources such as motor vehicles (Batalha et al, 1999), or in indoor environments (Miyazato, 2000), may contribute to increase the rate of genetic mutation in exposed organisms. It is plausible that such genetic alterations lead to deleterious consequences both to individual organisms, due to tumors and malignancies, and to whole populations, due to incidence of congenital diseases (Rodrigues, 1999c).…”

Pollen mother cells of Tradescantia clone 4430 and Tradescantia pallida var. purpurea are equally sensitive to the clastogenic effects of X-rays

“…On the basis of these considerations, we explored the feasibility of the use of T. pallida in pollution studies, with positive results (6)(7)(8). In the present study, we compared the dose-response relationships obtained when Tradescantia clone 4430 and T. pallida were exposed to radiation.…”

“…Plant bioassays are ideally suited to use in short-term studies of mutagenesis both for laboratory and in situ biomonitoring investigations (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). In addition, because of their low cost and high efficiency, they can be used for the screening of selected environments such as the vicinity of stationary sources of air pollution (2)(3)(4)7,8), traffic emissions (6)(7)(8), as well as soils, waters, and selected substances, requiring minimal procedures of chemical extraction and sample manipulation (4)(5)(6).…”

Tradescantia pallida cv. purpurea Boom in the Characterization of Air Pollution by Accumulation of Trace Elements

“…This property has been evidenced by the micronucleus assay. 11,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] This is the first study to explore the capability of one species of Tradescantia to accumulate metals in field conditions.…”