title: Genetic instability in plants associated with vehicular traffic and climatic variables.
abstract: To characterize the effect of vehicular traffic on air quality, the micronuclei of Tradescantia pallida tetrads were counted. Young inflorescences of T. pallida (Rose) D.R. Hunt var. purpurea were collected in 2010, 2011, and 2012, from three sites subjected to different intensities of vehicular traffic. The sites were located in the municipality of Dourados, in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. A standardized methodology was used to analyze the Tradescantia micronuclei, in order to evaluate the mutagenic potential of the local air pollutants. Statistical analyses using the Pearson's linear correlation were employed to determine the relationship between relative humidity and temperature, and the average number of micronuclei. In this study, an increase in the average number of passing vehicles was correlated with an increase in the frequency of micronucleus formation. Climatic factors also influenced micronucleus formation, although vehicular traffic remained the most important factor. Thus, the Tradescantia micronuclei assay may be a useful method of assessing air quality.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Caroline Vivian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spósito
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno do Amaral
authors.initials: Bdo A
authors.lastname: Crispim
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Street João Rosa Góes, 1761-Vila Progresso , Caixa Postal 322, CEP: 79.825-070 Dourados, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosilda Mara
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mussury
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Street João Rosa Góes, 1761-Vila Progresso , Caixa Postal 322, CEP: 79.825-070 Dourados, MS, Brazil. Electronic address: alexeiagrisolia@ufgd.edu.br.
authors.forename: Alexeia Barufatti
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Grisolia
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006813:Humidity; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D013696:Temperature; D034823:Tradescantia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Air pollution; Micronucleus; Relative humidity; Tradescantia; Traffic