Biomonitoring genotoxic risks under the urban weather conditions and polluted atmosphere in Santo André, SP, Brazil, through Trad-MCN bioassay.
The present study was made to check if the Trad-MCN bioassay, developed with inflorescences of Tradescantia pallida cv. Purpurea, might discriminate genotoxic risks in areas of the city of Santo André (SE Brazil) contaminated by different air pollutants, and periods of the year when risks are higher, and to determine if the variations in the frequency of micronuclei (MCN) can be explained by environmental factors that characterize the stressful situation in each site. Potted plants were exposed in sites highly contaminated by ozone (Capuava and School) and in sites reached by high vehicular emissions (downtown and Celso Daniel Park). Pedroso Park, far from the polluted areas, was taken as reference. From September 2003 to September 2004, 20 young inflorescences were collected twice a week from each place and the frequencies of MCN were estimated. The environmental conditions observed in the polluted sites were stressful enough to promote an increase of MCN, mainly in sites reached by high vehicular emissions. But MCN rates in Capuava and at Celso Daniel Park could not be predicted only by pollutants which characterized the air contamination in these sites. More severe weather conditions, mainly low temperature, relative humidity and rainfall, caused an increase of MCN. Improvement of the biomonitoring system is recommended to minimize this negative influence of weather factors.
Serviço Municipal de Saneamento Ambiental de Santo André (SEMASA), Rua Osvaldo Cruz 99, 09185-440 Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: erianejusto@yahoo.com.br.
Eriane Justo Luiz
EJL
Savóia
Seção de Ecologia, Instituto de Botânica, Caixa Postal 3005, 01061-970 São Paulo, Brazil.
Marisa
M
Domingos
Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 455, 01246-903 São Paulo, Brazil.
Eliane Tigre
ET
Guimarães
Serviço Municipal de Saneamento Ambiental de Santo André (SEMASA), Rua Osvaldo Cruz 99, 09185-440 Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
Fabiano
F
Brumati
Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 455, 01246-903 São Paulo, Brazil.
Paulo Hilário Nascimento
PHN
Saldiva
D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D035264:Flowers / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013696:Temperature; D034823:Tradescantia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014505:Urban Population; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity; D014887:Weather
D009153:Mutagens; D001335:Vehicle Emissions