Dalia Dasgupta Mandal
National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, India
Title: Genotoxicity evaluation and a primary risk assessment of organic and inorganic pollutants from industrial effluents
Biography
Biography: Dalia Dasgupta Mandal
Abstract
In the present study, the genotoxicity and probable risk associated with the three most important, priority pollutants o-cresol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and chromium VI have been studied in Allium test focusing on their DNA damaging effect using comet assay. It was observed that there is a gradual decrease in root length with increased concentration of all the three pollutants tested. The EC50 value obtained are 8 ppm, 2.5 ppm, 14 ppm for o-cresol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and chromium (VI) respectively. The genotoxicity test performed at concentration of EC50 as well as below and above EC50 values in Allium cepa revealed that there is gradual enhancement in % chromosomal aberration with concentrations. At concentration of 10 ppm of each o-cresol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and chromium (VI) % chromosomal aberration are 51±05, 72±05, 59±04 respectively. The sensitivity, speciï¬city and relevance of the comet assay as a method for determination of DNA damage has been successfully established from the increased tail length movement observed with increasing concentration of o-cresol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and chromium (VI) compared to tap water as control. Among these three priority pollutant mediated DNA damage, TCP showed maximum damage at fixed concentration of 5 ppm. The present investigation revealed that biomonitoring of flora or fauna of ecosystem exposed to potential mutagens or carcinogens can provide an early detection system for the potential of pollutant which is responsible for initiation of DNA damage, leading to growth inhibition in Allium cepa indicating the need of proper effluent treatment process.