Cytogenotoxicity Screening of Urban and Rural Marshes: An Integrated In Vivo Approach Coupling Fish and Plant-Based Tests Adapted for Low-Income Countries

Effects of anthropogenic activities such as urbanization, population growth, and agriculture on water quality are major concerns particularly in low-income countries where water quality monitoring can be challenging. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the cytogenotoxic potential of water from urban and rural Malagasy marshes, coupling a fish (Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus) and a plant (Allium cepa) species as bioindicators. The fish and plants were exposed for 72 h to water sampled in the two locations investigated. Using the comet assay on fish erythrocytes, DNA strand breaks were assessed, while mitotic index and nucleolar alterations were estimated in cells of the plant root apex. Comet assays revealed significant DNA strand breaks to fish erythrocytes in both the marshes investigated while the mitotic index and nucleolar characteristics in the roots of A. cepa mainly highlighted potential cytotoxicity in the urban marsh. Our results demonstrate the advantages of coupling in vivo biological test systems to screen potential cytogenotoxicity of surface water in low-income countries where comprehensive data sets of aquatic contaminants are often lacking. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;00:1-10. (c) 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the cytogenotoxic potential of water from urban and rural Malagasy marshes using fish and plants as bioindicators. The results showed DNA strand breaks in fish erythrocytes in both marshes, while potential cytotoxicity was mainly observed in the roots of plants in the urban marsh. These findings demonstrate the advantages of coupling in vivo biological test systems to assess cytogenotoxicity in surface water in low-income countries.