Toxicological assessment of sediment from a gold mining area (Paracatu - MG)

• Grant number: 19/15072-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Aparecida Marin Morales
• Grantee: Kemellyn Cristina Panchera
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mining is one of the most profitable activities and important for Brazil's economy. Several tons of ore are exported annually, which makes mining a very relevant activity of Brazilian’s GDP. However, the methods used to obtain the ores can have harmful consequences for the health of the population of the city that contains the mining company, as it happens in Paracatu - MG. Thereby, the presented study has as the main aim to assess, through Allium cepa assays, the cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic potentials of solubilized and leached extracts samples of sediment from four different rivers from Paracatu, related with the activities of a local mining company. Cytotoxic potential will be evaluated by analysis of germination and mitotic index, the genotoxic potential by chromosome aberration (CA) assay and the mutagenic potential by both the micronucleus test and the analysis of chromosome fragments. The species A. cepa is considered an efficient test organism to be used in environmental evaluations. The responses observed in this organism also show high correlation with xenobionts effects on mammals. So, its use in this research will allow evaluate the likely impacts of mining activities, both for the environment and for the health of the population.