Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6/III, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Sci Total Environ. 2010 Feb 1;408(5):1228-33. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.11.055.
Screening for mutagens in complex environmental mixtures, such as surface water or industrial wastewater, is gradually being accepted as a routine method in environmental monitoring programs. In the present work, the simplified Alliumcepa root assay was utilized to evaluate the possible cyto- and genotoxic effects of surface and wastewaters collected near the Sava River (Croatia) over a three-month monitoring period. Physicochemical characterization of the water samples included measurements of conductivity, chemical and biological oxygen demand, levels of suspended matter and salts, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, total nitrogen and total phosphorus. Morphological modifications of the A. cepa roots, inhibition of root growth, cell division and induction of mitotic and chromosomal aberrations were observed. The most highly polluted water samples (industrial effluents) caused an inhibition of root growth of over 50%, a decrease in the mitotic index of over 40%, and a considerable increase in chromosomal aberrations compared to the control. The measured biological effects of some water samples appeared related to the physicochemical characteristics. Therefore, mutagenicity/genotoxicity assays should be included, along with conventional chemical analysis, in water quality monitoring programs. Their use would allow the quantification of mutagenic hazards in surface and wastewaters.
在环境监测计划中，对复杂环境混合物（如地表水或工业废水）中的诱变剂进行筛选正逐渐被视为常规方法。本研究利用简化的洋葱根尖细胞微核试验，评估了萨瓦河（克罗地亚）附近地表水和废水在三个月监测期间的潜在细胞毒性和遗传毒性。水样的理化特性分析包括电导率、化学需氧量和生物需氧量、悬浮物和盐分、硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐、氨氮、总氮和总磷的测定。观察到洋葱根尖的形态改变、根生长抑制、细胞分裂以及有丝分裂和染色体畸变的诱导。与对照相比，污染最严重的水样（工业废水）导致根生长抑制超过 50%，有丝分裂指数下降超过 40%，染色体畸变显著增加。一些水样的生物效应与理化特性有关。因此，在水质监测计划中，除了常规化学分析外，还应包括致突变性/遗传毒性检测。它们的使用可以定量评估地表水和废水中的致突变危害。
