Evaluation of the Genotoxic Potential of the Mineral Coal Tailings Through the Helix aspersa (Müller, 1774)

Abstract

Coal mining is an activity with a high potential for environmental pollution. Coal has been described as the most significant pollutant of all the fossil fuels, containing a heterogeneous mixture. Many elements present in coal byproducts as well as coal tailings are rich in potentially toxic and genotoxic metals, which ultimately lead to profound changes in cells, tissues, populations, and ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to assess the genotoxic potential of the mineral coal tailings using the land snail Helix aspersa. Animals were divided in three groups, clustered in plexiglass cages: control (animals fed with organic lettuce), coal tailings (animals living in a layer of pyrite tailings and fed with organic lettuce), and mine lettuce (animals fed with lettuce grown in an area located in a deposit of coal tailings). The hemolymph was collected at different exposure times (24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 1 month) for comet assay analyses. Results showed that the animals of the coal tailings and mine lettuce groups presented higher levels of DNA damage in relation to the control group at all exposure times, but with a peak of DNA damage in 48 h and 96 h. These results demonstrate that the coal pyrite tailings are potentially genotoxic and that H. aspersa has proven to be a sensitive instrument for a better risk assessment of environmental pollution.

Terrestrial gastropods (Helix spp) as sentinels of primary DNA damage for biomonitoring purposes: A validation study

“…They become more active with increasing humidity (e.g., rainfall), when it is more likely that less volatile compounds are grounded. In addition, their feeding habits (vegetal substrate eroded with the radula) make these organisms' potential sentinels, as also suggested by previous research [Regoli et al, 2003[Regoli et al, , 2006Ianistcki et al, 2009;Leffa et al, 2010;Itziou et al, 2011].…”

“…Moreover, these species tend to accumulate different classes of chemical compounds and are suitable for monitoring metals, agrochemical compounds, urban pollutants, and electromagnetic exposure [Berger and Dallinger, ; Gomot de Vaufleury and Pihan, ; Snyman et al, ; Beeby and Richmond, ; Viard et al, ; Regoli et al, ]. The comet assay has been already used on terrestrial gastropods of the same genus [Regoli et al, ; Ianistcki et al, ; Leffa et al, ; Itziou et al, ]. Some studies reporting changes in DNA caused by contaminants have indicated that DNA damage detected by the comet assay [(Rahman et al, ; Nigro et al, ; Regoli et al, ; Clement et al, ] represents a meaningful biomarker in ecotoxicologic studies using these organisms.…”

Malacofauna on coal – ash settling basins comparison of a functional basin to a basin abandoned for 26 years

“…Chemical properties of the substrates were not investigated by the authors. Nevertheless, fly ash contains heavy metals toxic for most organisms, including molluscs [18].…”

The comet assay in animal models: From bugs to whales – (Part 1 Invertebrates)

“…Studies have also been performed on terrestrial gastropods, such as garden snails Helix aspersa and Helix vermiculata [183][184][185][186][187][188] as sentinels for detecting primary DNA damage in polluted environments [188]. Afterwards, several environmental pollutants [183,184,186] as well as UV irradiation [185] and exposure to Nicotiana tabacum leaves [187] were evaluated on these species indicating that the comet assay is an appropriate assay and Helix spp. populations are suitable sentinels to monitor the genotoxic impact of different pollutants.…”