title: Genotoxicity Assessment of Water Samples from the Sungai Dua River in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Using the Allium cepa Test.
abstract: Unwanted side effects from a polluted water body may not be limited to the flora and fauna, they may also be transferred to the organisms along the food chain. Four water samples collected immediately and five days after rainfall from two locations inside the polluted Sungai Dua River (SGD) were tested for toxicity using the Allium cepa assay. The samples were analysed for metal content and were both macroscopically and microscopically evaluated. The water samples contained more sodium (Na(+)) and calcium (Ca(2+)) than the control tap water, and they showed root growth and mitotic inhibitions (MI) in A. cepa. However, the inhibitory effects were not dose-dependent. No chromosomal aberration (CA) was induced at 100.00% (undiluted water sample). These results suggest the water samples from SGD had weak mitodepressive and genotoxic effects on the A. cepa cells.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ; Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Akeem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akinboro
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kamaruzaman
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Selestin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rathnasamy
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Vijay Raj
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Muniandy
keywords: Chromosome Aberration; Metals; Mitosis; Pollution; Water Samples