Abstract:
Response of the Allium cepa genetic material to the presense of potential cytotoxic and
genotoxic substances in aquatic environment was used to evaluate the toxicity of
industrial wastewater collected from 4 different sites: Shawa, Meet El Akrad, Telbana
and Belgay along the new Mansoura drain in Sandub area, Dakahlia Province. For in situ
monitoring of the cytotoxicity level, the inhibition of mitotic division in meristematic
cells, was assayed. For testing the genotoxicity of the collected water samples, two assays
were used, chromosome aberration assay in mitotic cells and micronucleus assay (MNC)
in interphase cells. The results indicate that all the water samples collected from the drain
were highly mutagenic. Concentrations of the heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Co, Cd, Cu) were
also determined and could partly be correlated with the toxicity of water and industrial
load of Sandub area.
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