Evaluation of the presence of mutagenic dyes in sediments from Cristais River

Azo dyes are largely used by coloring textiles and can contaminate the aquatic environment, including the sediment, through their release through effluent discharges. In this work the presence of mutagenic azo dyes was evaluated using Thin Layer Chromatography in sediment samples of the Cristais River upstream and downstream of an azo dye processing plant discharge area. Mutagenicity of the sediment samples was also analyzed using the Salmonella/microsome assay with the strain YG1041 in the presence and absence of S9. Extracts of benthic organisms collected in the same area were analyzed for the presence of dyes. The dyes CI Disperse Blue 373 and Cl Disperse Orange 37 as well as three unknown fluorescent compounds were detected only in the sediment samples collected downstream of the industrial discharge. Activity was detected with the Salmonella assay in the three samples analyzed but higher values were obtained after the azo dye processing plant when compared to the reference site. This effect could be partially explained by the presence of the mutagenic dyes detected, considering their mutagenic potencies. No dyes were found in the extracts of the organisms. Further studies should be performed to evaluate the fate and effects of these dyes in the sediment and in the aquatic community and their potential to be transferred to the water column.