Investigation of genotoxicity in river sediments

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to develop a useful screening method to assess genotoxic effect of polluted bottom sediments from the water reservoir Ružin No.I. The Hornád and Hnilec Rivers drained a former mining area, have been polluted in the long-term by heavy metals (Cu, As, Sb, Hg), which significantly contributed to environmental degradation. Genotoxicity of bottom sediment was evaluated by test SOS-ChromoPadTM 3.0 for solid samples without extraction. The mentioned test represents simple, quick and direct sediment phase toxicity testing procedure. In this test bacterial strain Escherichia coli K12 PQ37 was used. The results of SOSChromoPadTM 3.0 showed that sample Hornád has low potential genotoxic effect on the environment. It was determined on the basis of slight blue colouration of chromogenic paper at the point of sediment application. The sample Hnilec was negative. This test allows significantly reduce the time for obtaining information about sediments genotoxicity and accept necessary security proceeding in time.

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

“…Studies have shown that urbanization has deteriorated aquatic ecosystems, changed hydro-sedimentological dynamics of rivers, and introduced many contaminants, such as heavy metals, metalloids, and hydrocarbons that cause genotoxic damage to different organisms ( Taylor and Owens, 2009 ; Yi et al., 2015 ; Šestinová et al., 2017 ). Among the many chemical elements introduced into drainage basins, metals have an accentuated relevance because of their association with human activities, such as vehicle emissions ( Ball et al., 1998 ; Zhao et al., 2011 ) and release of domestic and industrial wastewater.…”