Evaluation of genotoxicity from Nilufer Stream (Bursa/Turkey) water using piscine micronucleus test
Introduction
The contamination of surface waters, containing known and unknown compounds, could pose a serious public health and aquatic ecosystem threat (Claxton et al., 1998). This increased the interest in studies for the evaluation of polluted water genotoxicity. In recent years several studies have evaluated the impact of agricultural and industrial effluents on river waters using different assays (Lemos and Erdtmann, 2000, Vargas et al., 2001, Viganò et al., 2002, Tagliari et al., 2004, Ohe et al., 2004, Ergene et al., 2007, Lemos et al., 2007). Anthropogenic activities as sources of increased toxic substance content in aquatic systems are common in Turkey. Bursa is one of the most important industrialized and urbanized cities in Turkey which is experiencing rapid industrial development (Güleryüz et al., 2008). Industrial and agricultural activities, a rapidly increasing population and non-planned urbanization processes have challenged the ecological balance in Bursa City (Karaer and Küçükballı, 2006). Nilufer Stream, 168 km long and 411.3 km2 of its watershed area, provides drinking water via Doğancı Dam, and also agricultural and industrial water in Bursa. However, domestic, industrial (particularly metallurgical, automotive, leather tanning, textiles, and chemicals) and agricultural wastes are discharged into the Nilufer Stream as reported in several studies. Yılmaz et al. (1998) reported that the chromium and lead concentrations in Nilufer Stream were well above the standard limits given for the heavily polluted class of water. According to Turkish Environment Law – Water Pollution Control Legislation, Land-Based Water Quality Classification (1992), Nilufer Stream classified as Class IV water. Thus in this study we aimed to monitor Nilufer Stream because it has a potential for contamination by genotoxic substances including heavy metals and organic compounds.
In recent years, a number of reports have appeared that demonstrate the occurrence of genotoxic chemicals in aquatic systems or in the tissues of aquatic organisms (Ellingham et al., 1986, Ergene et al., 2007). The fish micronucleus test is widely employed to assess the biological impact of water pollution (De Flora et al., 1993, Minissi et al., 1996, Sanchez-Galan et al., 1998, Ergene et al., 2007). Micronuclei (MN) arise from chromosomal fragments or whole chromosomes that are not incorporated into daughter nuclei at mitosis (Schmid, 1975). MN can be analyzed in different fish cell types such as peripheral erythrocytes, gill, kidney, hepatic and fin cells (Al-Sabti and Metcalfe, 1995, Arkhipcuk and Garanko, 2005). For fish species, the MN test presents several advantages over other cytogenetic studies such as sister chromatid exchanges or chromosome aberrations which are in relatively large numbers of the small chromosomes of many fish species (Hooftman and Vink, 1981). Nuclear abnormalities are frequently observed in fish erythrocytes, with Carrasco et al. (1990) having described such abnormal nuclei as being blebbed, notched or lobbed.
In our study we aimed to evaluate genotoxic potential of the toxic compounds which are discharged in Nilufer Stream by industrial, agricultural and domestic wastes. For this purpose, micronucleus test was performed in peripheral erythrocytes of Oreochromis niloticus (nile tilapia) exposed to water samples collected from different stations along the Nilufer Stream. We also evaluated the frequencies of nuclear abnormalities (NAs) such as bi-nucleated cells and binuclei with nucleoplasmic bridge and also the cells with blebbed, notched and lobbed nuclei in erythrocytes.
Section snippets
Study area
Water samples were collected along the Nilufer Stream (40°11′N latitude and 29°04′E longitude). The Nilufer Stream passes through the Bursa city and supplies drinking water via Dogancı Dam which was built on upstream of the city (Fig. 1). The average discharge at the Dogancı Dam in Bursa is 10 m3 /s. The average yearly rainfall is 696.5 mm and the average temperature is 14.6 °C in Bursa (Güleryüz, 1992). The concentrations of pollutants in water depend upon enrichment and dilution caused by total
Results
Chemical analysis of water samples indicated that water from polluted downstream sampling sites of the river system (Cekrice, B. Balıklı and Buttim) had higher concentrations of heavy metals (Al, Total Cr, Total Fe, Zn, Pb and Ni) and floating solids and some organic matters than sampling site from the upper river (Baraklı) (Table 1). Table 2 shows the frequencies of micronuclei and nuclear abnormality and their mean values with standard deviation in O. niloticus erythrocytes from four sampling
Discussion
In this study we have observed genotoxic effects with water samples from polluted downstream portions of Nilufer Stream. Cekrice site water sample produced significant number of micronuclei and increased the total number of nuclear abnormality with regard to our clean sample. Cekrice site is polluted by the Ayvalı creek which carries industrial wastes including dye and textile plant wastes from big industrial zones and some domestic wastes from sewage systems. Çavas and Ergene-Gözükara (2003)
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
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