Allium test for air and water borne pollution control.

An Allium cepa test was used to study the genotoxicity of the ecosystem. Elevated frequencies of chromosomal aberrations (CA) and root growth inhibition were observed in Allium as a result of exposure to genotoxicants investigated in rainfall, snowfall, a petrochemical polluted site and in aquarium water, compared with the relevant control. The Allium test has been shown to be a useful tool for the detection of potentially genotoxic substances in air and water screening programmes.