| Title: | "Cellular damages in the Allium cepa test system, caused by BTEX mixture prior and after biodegradation process" |
| Author(s): | Mazzeo DE; Fernandes TC; Marin-Morales MA; |
| Address: | "Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Av. 24-A, 1515, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. decm@rc.unesp.br" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.06.056 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-1298 (Electronic) 0045-6535 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Petroleum and derivatives have been considered one of the main environmental contaminants. Among petroleum derivatives, the volatile organic compounds benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) represent a major concern due to their toxicity and easy accumulation in groundwater. Biodegradation methods seem to be suitable tools for the clean-up of BTEX contaminants from groundwater. Genotoxic and mutagenic potential of BTEX prior and after biodegradation process was evaluated through analyses of chromosomal aberrations and MN test in meristematic and F(1) root cells using the Allium cepa test system. Seeds of A. cepa were germinated into five concentrations of BTEX, non-biodegraded and biodegraded, in ultra-pure water (negative control), in MMS 4x10(-4)M (positive control) and in culture medium used in the biodegradation (blank biodegradation control). Results showed a significant frequency of both chromosomal and nuclear aberrations. The micronucleus (MN) frequency in meristematic cells was significant for most of tested samples. However, MN was not present in significant levels in the F(1) cells, suggesting that there was no permanent damage for the meristematic cell. The BTEX effects were significantly reduced in the biodegraded samples when compared to the respective non-biodegraded concentrations. Therefore, in this study, the biodegradation process showed to be a reliable and effective alternative to treat BTEX-contaminated waters. Based on our results and available data, the BTEX toxicity could also be related to a synergistic effect of its compounds" |
| Keywords: | "Bacteria/metabolism Benzene/metabolism/*toxicity Benzene Derivatives/metabolism/*toxicity Biodegradation, Environmental Chromosome Aberrations Mutagenicity Tests Mutagens/metabolism/*toxicity Onions/cytology/*genetics Petroleum/metabolism/toxicity Toluene;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineMazzeo, Dania Elisa Christofoletti Fernandes, Thais Cristina Casimiro Marin-Morales, Maria Aparecida eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2011/07/12 Chemosphere. 2011 Sep; 85(1):13-8. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.06.056. Epub 2011 Jul 7" |
