Genotoxic effect of heavy metals on Astyanax lacustris in an urban stream

Abstract

Uncontrolled urbanization growth contributes to the pollution of aquatic environments. Heavy metals released by domestic and industrial effluents can negatively affect aquatic organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of environmental pollutants, such as metals, on fish DNA damage, in stretches of an urban stream. Specimens of the Neotropical fish, Astyanax lacustris , were exposed in situ for 96 h along the Antas stream, a Brazilian aquatic system deteriorated by anthropogenic factors. Water and sediment samples were collected simultaneously for physicochemical and heavy metal analyses. The comet assay was performed as a biomarker of genotoxicity. Fish located downstream had a higher frequency of DNA damage than in the reference site. We found concentrations of Cr and Ni above acceptable levels in sediment samples. Generally, Ba, Mn, Mg, Zn, Cr, and Ni were the elements most associated with genotoxic damage. Water and sediment of the Antas stream showed genotoxic potential in A. lacustris according to the urbanization gradient, demonstrating the importance to prevent the release of environmental pollutants, especially heavy metals in urban areas.

Temporal variation and risk assessment of heavy metals and nutrients from water and sediment in a stormwater pond, Brazil

“…However, Cr, Ni, and Pb represent high ecological hazards (Kumar & Singh 2018). Silva et al (2020), in this study area, found that the elements Ba, Mn, Zn, Cr, and Ni were strongly associated with genotoxic damage in native fish species. In addition, the association of these metals can raise toxicity in the aquatic environment.…”

Detection on Electroplating Effluent-Induced Cytopathological Alterations and DNA Damage in the Blood Samples of Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822)

“…The ratio of the DNA in the tail region (tail intensity) is commonly used for quantifying DNA strand breakage and represents the most reliable parameter [67]. Formation of comet tails and micronuclei have been reported with several other toxicants such as hexavalaent chromium in Ctenopharyngodon idellus and Labeo rohita [68,69], Naphthalene-2-sulfonate induced toxicity in blood cells of freshwater fish Channa punctatus [70]; amoxicillin residue on zebra fish (Danio rerio) embryos (Chowdhury et al, 2020); heavy metals on Astyanax lacustris [71], sub lethal concentrations of cadmium chloride exposure in Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis Submit your Manuscript | www.austinpublishinggroup.com mossambicus [72], oil-containing drill cuttings in marine benthic goby Mugilogobius chulae [73]. Corroborative evidence from all these studies highlight the importance of comet assay as an ideal genotoxicity marker in fishes and other marine organisms.…”

Environmental diagnosis of water quality in situ and ex situ in streams in Upper Paraná River Basin, Brazil

“…Because organisms respond to the effects of certain environmental impacts in the form of macrolesions on the DNA molecule resulting in genotoxic damage (Batista et al 2016). The genotoxic effects are changes in the nucleus or in the cellular nuclear morphology resulting from potentially toxic contaminants in the aquatic environment, which is interfering in the cell division process, re ecting in damages in the genetic material of the aquatic organisms (Pereira da Silva et al 2020).…”