title: Cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic evaluation of surface waters from a coal exploration region.
abstract: Coal mining generates a considerable amount of waste, which is disposed of in piles or dams near mining sites. As a result, leachates may reach rivers and streams, promoting the wide dispersion of contaminants in solution and as particulate matter. The present study evaluated the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic action of surface waters collected around a thermoelectric power plant and the largest mining area in Brazil (Candiota). Four sites in Candiota stream were selected, and samples were collected in winter and summer. Water samples were analyzed using the comet and CBMN assays in V79 and HepG2 cells. Furthermore, genotoxicity of water samples was evaluated in vivo using the SMART in Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and inorganic elements were quantified. The results indicate that water samples exhibited no genotoxic and mutagenic activities, whether in vitro or in vivo. On the other hand, surface water samples collected in sites near the power plant in both summer and winter inhibited cell proliferation and induced increased frequencies of V79 cell death, apoptosis, and necrosis. The cytotoxicity observed may be associated with the presence of higher concentration of inorganic elements, especially aluminum, silicon, sulfur, titanium and zinc at sites 1 and 2 in the stream, as well as with the complex mixture present in the coal, in both seasons. Therefore, the results obtained point to the toxicity potential of water samples with the influence of coal mining and combustion processes and the possible adverse effects on the health of exposed organisms.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology Applied to Health, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cynthia Silva
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology Applied to Health, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Lemes
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology Applied to Health, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hélio Vieira
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Bernardes
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology Applied to Health, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Corrêa
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Bellagamba
authors.affiliation: Ion Implantation Laboratory, Institute of Physics, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anaí
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Ion Implantation Laboratory, Institute of Physics, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Johnny Ferraz
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário La Salle, Master's Degree in Environmental Impact Evaluation, Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Rabaioli
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology Applied to Health, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology Applied to Health, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology Applied to Health, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: rafael.rodrigues@ulbra.br.
authors.forename: Rafael Rodrigues
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Dihl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001938:Brazil; D016923:Cell Death; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis*; D003032:Coal Mining; D020552:Comet Assay; D048749:Cytokinesis; D004249:DNA Damage; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D009336:Necrosis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011210:Power Plants; D045483:Rivers; D014867:Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water
keywords: Chromosomal instability; Coal mining; DNA damage; Drosophila melanogaster; HepG2; V79