title: Allium cepa L. as a bioindicator to measure cytotoxicity of surface water of the Quatorze River, located in Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil.
abstract: Due to an increase in water consumption in the industrial sector and within the Brazilian population, surface water that receives wastewater from industries, domestic sewage, agricultural industries, and sewage treatment stations can pollute water bodies when not properly treated. The water quality has been linked to catchment characteristics and intensity of agricultural activities. Thus, the aim of this study was to monitor the cytotoxic potential of the water of the Quatorze River, located in the town of Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil, along its route in the rural area, using the root meristematic cells of Allium cepa L. as a bioindicator. The results showed that the water at points 2, 3, and 4 were not cytotoxic because the rates of A. cepa cell division were unaltered. Point 1 had presented a mitotic index that was statistically larger than the negative control, indicating that this water contained substances with mitogenic capacity, as demonstrated by elevated values in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). However, the mitotic index values decreased along the route of the river (point 1 to point 4), possibly indicating a mechanism of self-purification, despite having received other sources of pollution. Thus, the results of this study show that the water of the Quatorze River should undergo periodic environmental monitoring at different times of the year, including cytotoxicity analysis, to evaluate the principal sources of contamination to maintain the quality of the river water and, consequently, to maintain human health and equilibrium of the entire ecosystem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo 5790, Bloco H67 (11), Jardim Universitário, CEP: 87020-900, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil, lisdusman@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Elisângela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Düsman
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luzza
authors.forename: Leoberto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savegnago
authors.forename: Daiana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lauxen
authors.forename: Veronica Elisa Pimenta
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Vicentini
authors.forename: Ivane Benedetti
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Tonial
authors.forename: Ticiane Pokrywiecki
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Sauer
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019697:Onions / Q000187:drug effects*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical