Genotoxic effect of heavy metals on Astyanax lacustris in an urban stream

Emanoelle Pereira da Silva; Marcelino Benvindo-Souza; Carlos Filipe Camilo Cotrim; Andreya Gonçalves Costa Motta; Matheus Mendonça Lucena; Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho; Julião Pereira; Klebber Teodomiro Martins Formiga; Daniela Melo E Silva

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05034

Genotoxic effect of heavy metals on Astyanax lacustris in an urban stream

Heliyon. 2020 Sep 24;6(9):e05034. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05034. eCollection 2020 Sep.

Authors

Emanoelle Pereira da Silva¹, Marcelino Benvindo-Souza², Carlos Filipe Camilo Cotrim³, Andreya Gonçalves Costa Motta², Matheus Mendonça Lucena⁴, Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho⁴, Julião Pereira⁴, Klebber Teodomiro Martins Formiga¹, Daniela Melo E Silva²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Hydraulic, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Brazil.
² Laboratory of Mutagenesis (Labmut), Institute of Biology Sciences, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Brazil.
³ Laboratory of Biogeography and Aquatic Ecology, State University of Goiás (UEG), Brazil.
⁴ Laboratory of Extraction and Separation Methods (LAMES), Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Brazil.

Abstract

Uncontrolled urbanization growth contributes to the pollution of aquatic environments. Heavy metals released by domestic and industrial effluents can negatively affect aquatic organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of environmental pollutants, such as metals, on fish DNA damage, in stretches of an urban stream. Specimens of the Neotropical fish, Astyanax lacustris, were exposed in situ for 96 h along the Antas stream, a Brazilian aquatic system deteriorated by anthropogenic factors. Water and sediment samples were collected simultaneously for physicochemical and heavy metal analyses. The comet assay was performed as a biomarker of genotoxicity. Fish located downstream had a higher frequency of DNA damage than in the reference site. We found concentrations of Cr and Ni above acceptable levels in sediment samples. Generally, Ba, Mn, Mg, Zn, Cr, and Ni were the elements most associated with genotoxic damage. Water and sediment of the Antas stream showed genotoxic potential in A. lacustris according to the urbanization gradient, demonstrating the importance to prevent the release of environmental pollutants, especially heavy metals in urban areas.

Keywords: Comet assay; DNA damage; Environmental analysis; Environmental chemistry; Environmental pollution; Environmental science; Environmental toxicology; Fish; Heavy metals; Pollution.