PASSAÚNA RIVER WATER GENOTOXICITY AND CYTOTOXICITY: BIOASSAY WITH ALLIUM CEPA AND RELATIONSHIP WITH CAFFEINE

Abstract

Natural resources are becoming more limited and degraded. This study sought to evaluate the possible correlation between genotoxicity and cytotoxicityt, via the Allium cepa, and caffeine concentration in the water of an urban river. A positive correlation (R = 0.504 and p = 0.095) was found between the concentration of caffeine and the aberrations index chromosome (IAC), obtained from a bioassay, representing dependence between the variables. The results of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity showed variation in mitotic index (MI) and chromosomal aberrations, respectively. The bioassay results when related to the presence of caffeine indicate sewage contamina tion containing substances that may have caused these changes, e.g., drugs. The study herein demonstrates the potentiality of using those techniques to assist in decision making for protecting water resources.