Sewage pollution: genotoxicity assessment and phytoremediation of nutrients excess with Hydrocotyle ranunculoides.
The discharge of sewage effluents into low-order streams has negative effects on water quality. Macrophytes can be efficient in the treatment of this wastewater due to the removal of the main pollutants. The genotoxicity of sewage-polluted water discharging into La Choza stream was evaluated by testing with Allium cepa. Also, a phytoremediation assay with continuous recirculation of the residual water was conducted for 12 days. Three treatments were carried out. One treatment (Hr) was performed with a macrophyte (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides), and two treatments were conducted without macrophytes: with lighting (Ai) and without lighting (Ao). The wastewater was toxic according to all the evaluated indexes (mitotic index, frequency of chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus). High concentrations of ammonium, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), total (TP) and soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP) and indicators of faecal contamination were determined in the wastewater. The ammonium, DIN, SRP and TP loads at the end of the assay were significantly lower in the treatments with light (Hr and Ai). So, the nutrient removal was due to their absorption and adsorption by the periphyton and H. ranunculoides. Our results lead us to recommend the maintenance and planting of macrophytes in lowland streams subject to sewage pollution.
Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. gabrielomarbasilico@hotmail.com.|Laboratorio de Bioindicadores y Remediación - Universidad de Flores, Bacacay 2932, C1406GEB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. gabrielomarbasilico@hotmail.com.
Gabriel
G
Basílico
Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 954, C1113AAD, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Anahí
A
Magdaleno
Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 954, C1113AAD, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Marta
M
Paz
Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 954, C1113AAD, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Juan
J
Moretton
Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Laboratorio de Bioindicadores y Remediación - Universidad de Flores, Bacacay 2932, C1406GEB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ana
A
Faggi
Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Laboratorio de Bioindicadores y Remediación - Universidad de Flores, Bacacay 2932, C1406GEB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Laura
L
de Cabo
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D028041:Centella / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution; D060753:Water Quality
D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen
Domestic wastewater; Genotoxicity; Macrophytes; Nutrients