title: Evaluation of the genotoxic potential of soil contaminated with mineral coal tailings on snail Helix aspersa.
abstract: Coal remains an important source of energy, although the fuel is a greater environmental pollutant. Coal is a mixture of several chemicals, especially inorganic elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Many of these compounds have mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on organisms exposed to this mineral. In the town of Charqueadas (Brazil), the tailings from mining were used for landfill in the lower areas of the town, and the consequence is the formation of large deposits of this material. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of soil samples contaminated by coal waste in different sites at Charqueadas, using the land snail Helix aspersa as a biomonitor organism. Thirty terrestrial snails were exposed to different treatments: 20 were exposed to the soil from two different sites in Charqueadas (site 1 and 2; 10 in each group) and 10 non-exposed (control group). Hemolymph cells were collected after 24h, 5days and 7days of exposure and comet assay, micronucleus test, oxidative stress tests were performed. Furthermore, this study quantified the inorganic elements present in soil samples by the PIXE technique and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) by HPLC. This evaluation shows that, in general, soils from sites in Charqueadas, demonstrated a genotoxic effect associated with increased oxidative stress, inorganic and PAH content. These results demonstrate that the coal pyrite tailings from Charqueadas are potentially genotoxic and that H. aspersa is confirmed to be a sensitive instrument for risk assessment of environmental pollution.
authors: Laboratory of Genetic Toxicology, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha 8001, Prédio 22, Sala 22 (4(o) andar), 92425-900 Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors: Melissa Rosa
authors: MR
authors: de Souza
authors: Center at La Salle University, Master's Degree in Environmental Impact Evaluation, Canoas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: fer.rabaioli@gmail.com.
authors: Fernanda Rabaioli
authors: FR
authors: da Silva
authors: Ion Implantation Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Claudia Telles
authors: CT
authors: de Souza
authors: Ion Implantation Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Liana
authors: L
authors: Niekraszewicz
authors: Ion Implantation Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Johnny Ferraz
authors: JF
authors: Dias
authors: Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Applied Toxicology (PPGGTA) - Chemistry Course, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors: Suziane
authors: S
authors: Premoli
authors: Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Applied Toxicology (PPGGTA) - Chemistry Course, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors: Dione Silva
authors: DS
authors: Corrêa
authors: Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes, PPGBioSaúde and PPGGTA, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors: Mariana do Couto
authors: Mdo C
authors: Soares
authors: Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes, PPGBioSaúde and PPGGTA, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors: Norma Possa
authors: NP
authors: Marroni
authors: Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes, PPGBioSaúde and PPGGTA, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors: Maria Isabel
authors: MI
authors: Morgam-Martins
authors: Laboratory of Genetic Toxicology, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha 8001, Prédio 22, Sala 22 (4(o) andar), 92425-900 Canoas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: juliana.silva@ulbra.br.
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001938:Brazil; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D003032:Coal Mining; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006372:Helix, Snails / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003031:Coal; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Comet assay; Genotoxicity; Helix aspersa; Micronucleus test; Mineral coal tailings