title: In situ assessment of a neotropical fish to evaluate pollution in a river receiving agricultural and urban wastewater.
abstract: We aimed to assess the quality of a midsize river that receives agricultural and urban wastewater. Nuclear abnormalities (NA), comet assays of blood and gills, and gill histopathology were evaluated in fish Astyanax aff. paranae during the summer and winter 2011 at three sites in Paraná State, Brazil: (1) a biological reserve (Rebio-reference area); (2) an agricultural site; (3) a downstream site that accumulates agricultural and urban effluents. We found the highest effects of pollutants in fish at the downstream site during the summer. The agricultural site showed an intermediate damage rate, and fish at Rebio generally had the least damage, with the exception of NA. Despite conflicting results from the biomarkers used, we observed an increase in damage associated with the accumulation of pollutants. Pesticides are probable xenobiotics in the agricultural area. Additionally, metals and substances such as pharmaceuticals and ammonia may be present at the downstream site.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais (PEA)/Nupélia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, PR, Brazil, nediaghisi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nédia de Castilhos
authors.initials: Nde C
authors.lastname: Ghisi
authors.forename: Elton Celton
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Luís Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Fávaro
authors.forename: Helena Cristina
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Silva de Assis
authors.forename: Alberto José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Prioli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001938:Brazil; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D060126:Characidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D020552:Comet Assay; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005880:Gills / Q000473:pathology; D045483:Rivers; D012621:Seasons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical