Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
Volume 28, Issue 24, Pages 31032-31042Publisher
SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12862-5
Keywords
miR398; Heavy metals; Carotenoids; Oxidative stress; Comet assay; Robinsonecio; Air pollution
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Funding
- Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigacion e Innovacion Tecnologica (PAPIIT-DGAPA), of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico [IN112517]
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The study evaluated the toxic effects of heavy metals on the plant Robinsonecio gerberifolius exposed in different sites in Mexico City, showing an increase in genotoxicity and induction of oxidative stress. The presence of toxic HM in the atmosphere of Mexico City and its metropolitan area was confirmed through the analysis of alpha- and ss-carotenoids and miR398 levels in the exposed plants.
Evaluate the effect of heavy metals (HM) on sentinel organisms such as vascular plants represent a model to estimate toxic hazard due to environmental pollution. In the present study, the plant Robinsonecio gerberifolius was used to evaluate the toxic effects of the HM contained in the leaves of plants that were exposed to 4 different sites in Mexico city and its metropolitan area, during the rainy and dry seasons in the period 2017-2019. The comet assay to evaluate genotoxicity revealed an increase with respect to control (p < 0.05), in 2nd and 8th week of exposure, in all 4 study sites and in both seasons, more significant in the rainy period. An increase in the induction of oxidative stress was also observed in the exposed leaves from the 4 study sites when compared with the control; in some cases, the increases were significant (p < 0.05). In general, alpha- and ss-carotenoids were increased at 8th week of exposure, in all plants exposed in both seasons, while miR398 increased in plants exposed in 2 study sites (p < 0.05). Finally, toxic HM like aluminum, vanadium, and cadmium, increased significantly in the rainy season, while lead increased in the dry season. We conclude that R. gerberifolius can be considered a sentinel plant for evaluating the presence and general toxic effects caused by the presence of toxic HM that have been documented in the atmosphere of Mexico City and its metropolitan area.
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