title: Water mutagenic potential assessment on a semiarid aquatic ecosystem under influence of heavy metals and natural radioactivity using micronuclei test.
abstract: The contamination of water bodies by heavy metals and ionizing radiation is a critical environmental issue, which can affect water quality and, thus, human health. This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Boqueirão de Parelhas Dam in the Brazilian semiarid region. A 1-year study (2013-2014) was performed through the assessment of physicochemical parameters, heavy metal content, and radioactivity along with the mutagenicity potential of water using micronuclei test in Orechromis niloticus (in vivo) and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in human lymphocytes (in vitro). A deterioration of water organoleptics characteristics by the presence of high levels of sulfate and total solids was observed. High concentrations of aluminum, nickel, silver, and lead along with the alpha particle content were higher than the limits suggested by the World Health Organization and Brazilian legislation for drinking water. An increase in the frequency of micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities was observed in both experimental models. The results obtained confirmed the mutagenic potential present in water samples. This study highlights that geogenic agents affect water quality becoming a human health concern to be taken into account due to the relevance that this water reservoir has in the region.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Sen. Salgado Filho 3000, 59078-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Cláudio Cardozo
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Sen. Salgado Filho 3000, 59078-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julio Alejandro
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Navoni
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Análises de águas, alimentos e efluentes, Instituto Federal de Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN), Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Douglisnilson
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Morais Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Sen. Salgado Filho 3000, 59078-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batistuzzo de Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Radioatividade Natural (LARANA), Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferreira da Costa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Sen. Salgado Filho 3000, 59078-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.|Laboratório de Geomática e Ciências Ambientais (LAGEOMA), Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Reinaldo Antônio
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Petta
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Sen. Salgado Filho 3000, 59078-970, Natal, RN, Brazil. vi.mariga@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Souza do Amaral
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001417:Background Radiation; D001938:Brazil; D023681:Cichlids / Q000097:blood; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000528:radiation effects; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D009153:Mutagens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Boqueirão de Parelhas Dam; Cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay; Mutagenicity, micronucleus test; Natural radiation; Orechromis niloticus