Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants (POPs) and DNA Damage in Giant Toads (Rhinella marina) from an Industrial Area at Coatzacoalcos, Mexico

Coatzacoalcos River Basin is one of the most important hydrological and ecological regions of Mexico. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other contaminants have been detected in several environmental matrices in the region. So far, there have been a few efforts to evaluate exposure and effects on wildlife in the area. The purpose of this research work is to measure exposure to POPs and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in specimens of giant toads (Rhinella marina) taken from two zones near the industrial complex by the lower Coatzacoalcos River. Total POPs levels in soil and toads' tissues are between 660.5 and 2,712.9 ng/g d.w. and 55.6 and 1,2471.9 ng/g l.w., respectively. We found differences between the body burdens of POPs from different toad tissues evaluated but it did not happen by site type. DNA damage in blood varies from 0.7 to 4.8 (olive tail moment) and 7.4 to 16.7 mu m (tail length). DNA damage is found to be higher at industrial zones compared with urban zones. This study provides a data baseline about the POPs pollution status in soil and giant toads of the lower Coatzacoalcos River in Veracruz.