Evaluation of the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in Perumytilus purpuratus of the Quintero Bay, central Chile

Coastal waters in the Quintero bay (central Chile) have increasing levels of contamination by trace elements from anthropic activities such metals. However, the toxic effects of this waters that receives industrial discharges on the organisms which inhabit the bay is unknown. Determination of toxic effects is fundamental in the evaluation of the environmental risk exposure of the aquatic organisms of ecosystems. The objective of the study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the water of the Quintero bay, which receives industrial residues, on Perumytilus purpuratus. Individuals were collected from five sites in the bay and one from a control site in the coastal area of Tunqu & eacute;n. The Neutral Red retention time and the frequency of micronuclei were determined in hemocytes and branchial tissue. The concentrations of the trace elements Cu, As, Zn and Cd were measured in the tissue. The results show significantly lower Neutral Red retention time and greater frequency of frequency of micronuclei in the individuals of Quintero Bay compared to the control zone. The order of the trace element concentrations in tissues was Zn > Cu > Cd >= As. The individuals with the highest concentrations of Cu in the tissue had the lowest retention times for neutral red and the highest frequencies of micronuclei. In conclusion, the waters of the study area in the Quintero Bay has chemical agents that produce cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in the individuals of P. purpuratus.