Full text in pdf format

Analysis of mutagenicity of waters under the influence of petrochemical industrial complexes by the ames test (Salmonella/Microsome)

V.M.F. Vargas^I; J.A.P. Henriques^I; V.E.P. Motta^II

^ISecretaria da Saúde e do Meio Ambiente, Departamento do Meio Ambiente, Av. A.J. Renner, 10, 90250 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. Send correspondence to V.M.F.V.
^IIDepartamento de Fisiologia, Farmacologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Luís Englert, s/no., 90049 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

ABSTRACT

Water samples within the area of the III Petrochemical Industrial Complex (pluvial draining accumulation, safety basins and industrial effluent) and at different points along the Caí river were tested for the presence of mutagens and/or carcinogens using the Ames test.
Positive results were obtained for the TA 100 and TA 98 strains with or without microsomal activation in samples within the area of the Petrochemical Industrial Complex and at the Caí river sampling sites closest to the industrial complex. These results suggest the presence of muta-gens causing frameshift and base-pair substitution mutations, indicating the need for continuous monitoring of the area of influence of the III Petrochemical Industrial Complex to evaluate the full environmental impact of this industrial complex.

Keywords: mutagenicity; waters; petrochemical; ames test; Salmonella; Microsome.

REFERENCES

Ames, B.N., McCann, J. and Yamasaki, E. (1975). Methods for detecting carcinogens and mutagens with the Salmonella/mammalian-microsome mutagenicity test.Mutat. Res. 31: 347-364.

Douglas, G.R., Nestmann, E.R., Betts, J.L., Mueller, J.C., Lee, E.G.H., Stich, H.F., San, R.H.C., Brouzes, R.J.P., Chmelauskas, A.J., Paavila, H.D. and Walden, C.C. (1980). Mutagenic activity in pulp mill effluents. In: Water Chlorination, Environmental Impact and Health Effects. (Jolley, R.L., Brungs, W.A., Cumming, R.B. and Jacobs, V.A., eds.). Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, vol. 3, pp. 865-880.

Dutka, B.J. and Switzer-House, K. (1978). Distribution of mutagens and toxicants in lake Ontario waters as assessed by microbiological procedures. J. Great Lakes Res. 4: 237-241.

Epler, J. (1980). The use of short-term tests in the isolation and identification of chemical mutagens in complex mixtures. In: Chemical Mutagens, Principles and Methods for their Detection. (deSerres, F. and Hollander, A., eds.). Plenum Press, New York, Vol. 6, pp. 239270.

Glatz, B.A., Chriswell, C.D., Arguello, M.D., Svec, H.J., Fritz, J.S., Grimm, S.M. and Thomson, M.A. (1978). Examination of drinking water for mutagenic activity. J. Am. Water Assoc. 70: 465-468.

Grimm-Kibalo, S.M., Glatz, B.A. and Fritz, J.S. (1981). Seasonal variation of mutagenic activity in drinking water. Bull. Environm. Contam. Toxicol. 26:188-195.

Harris, R.H., Page, T. and Reiches, N.A. (1977). Carcinogenic hazards of organic chemicals in drinking water. In: Origin of Human Cancer, Book A. (Hiatt, H.D., Watson, J.D. and Winsten, J.A., eds.). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, pp. 309-330.

Institute for Medical Research. Department of Microbiology. Camden, New Jersey, NJ 08103 (1983). Ames Salmonella Mutagenicity Assay Protocol.

Kool, H.J., Kreijl, C.F., Vries, M., Kranen, H.J. and DeGreef, E. (1981). Mutagenic activity of the rivers Rhine and Neuse in the Netherlands. Sci. Total Environ. 18: 135-153.

Kurelec, B., Protic, M., Britvic, S., Kezic, N., Rijavec, M. and Zahn, R.K. (1981). Toxic effects in fish and` the mutagenic capacity of water from the Sava River in Yugoslavia. Bull. Environm. Contam. Toxicol. 26: 179-187.

Loper, J.C., Lang, D.R. and Smith, C.C. (1978). Mutagenicity of complex mixtures from drinking water. Water chlorination. Env. Impact and Health Effects 2: 433 -449.

Maron, D.M. and Ames, B.N. (1983). Revised methods for the Salmonella mutagenicity test. Mutat. Res. 113:173-215.

MacCann, J., Choi, E., Yamasaki, E. and Ames, B.N. (1975). Detection of carcinogens as mutagens in the Salmonella/microsome test: assay of 300 chemicals. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 72: 51355139.

McGeorge, L.J., Louis, J.B., Atherholt, T.B. and McGarrit, G.J. (1983). Mutagenicity analyses of industrial effluents: background and results to date. Report of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton, New Jersey.

Meir, J.R. and Bishop, D.F. (1985). Evaluation of conventional treatment processes for removal of mutagenic activity from municipal wastewaters. Journal WPCF 5710: 999-1005.

Sato, T., Momma, T., Ose, Y., Ishikawa, T. and Kato, K. (1983). Mutagenicity of Nagara River sediment. Mutat. Res. 118: 257-267.

Sato, T., Kato, K., Ose, Y., Nagase, H. and Ishikawa, T. (1985). Nitroarenes in Suimon River sediment. Mutat. Res. 157: 135-143.

Somani, S.M., Teece, R.G. and Schaeffer, D.J. (1980). Identification of cocarcinogens and promoters in industrial discharges into and in the Illinois River. J. Toxicol. and Environm. Health 6:315-331.

Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (1985). 16th edn. American Public Health Assoc., American Water Works Assoc, and Water, Pollution Control Federation, Washington, D.C., pp. 856-858.

Stinnet, S., Nobel, D., Brown, E. and Love, H. (1981). Mutagenic testing of industrial wastes from representative organic chemical industries. U.S. EPA. EPA-600-2-81-007.

Suzuki, J., Sadamasu, T. and Suzuki, S. (1982). Mutagenic activity of organic matter in an urban river sediment. Environ. Pollution (series A) 29: 91-99.

Van der Gaag, M.A., Noordsij, A. and Orange, J.P. (1983). Mutagens in water: importance of moderately hydrophilic compounds in relation to water treatment processes. Mutat. Res. 113: 311-312.

Waters, M.D. and Epler, J.L. (1978). Status of bioscreening of emissions and effluents from energy technologies. Third National Conference on the Interagency Energy/Environment R &D Program, Washington, D.C., June, 1-2.