Genotoxic effects induced by iprodione and tebuconazole in meristematic cells of Allium cepa: responses dependent on concentration and exposure time.

The present work explores the genotoxicity of the fungicides iprodione (IP) and tebuconazole (TB) using the Allium cepa assay as an in vivo biological model. Both short-term and long-term exposures were studied, revealing concentration- and time-dependent cytological and genotoxic effects. IP exhibited genotoxicity over a wider concentration range (5-50 µg/ml) and required 30 h of exposure, while TB showed genotoxicity at higher concentrations (10 and 30 µg/ml) within a 4-h exposure period. The study highlights the importance of assessing potential risks associated with fungicide exposure, including handling, disposal practices, and concerns regarding food residue. Moreover, the research underscores the genotoxic effects of IP and TB on plant cells and provides valuable insights into their concentration and time-response patterns.

Genotoxicity evaluation using micronucleus test in Rattus norvegicus captured in urban ecosystems of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The overall goal of the present study was to evaluate and compare the existence of genotoxic damage in Rattus norvegicus captured in sites with different levels of chemical mixtures along the Matanza-Riachuelo river basin (MRRB). For this, thirty-six wild rats (R. norvegicus) were captured from six different sites in the MRRB. Capture sites were characterized with concentrations of 20 parameters in surface water, including concentrations of metals and its soluble state and physicochemical parameters. To evaluate genotoxic damage in the rats, the bone marrow micronucleus test was performed. For this, the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) was calculated based on the observation of 2000 polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) per animal. Also, to detect possible cytotoxic effects, the PCE/TE (total erythrocytes) ratio in 1000 erythrocytes/animal was calculated. The frequency of MNPCE was positively associated with the highest concentration of chrome, lead, copper, biological oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand. Also, the decrease on PCE/TE ratio in bone marrow was related with increase of practically all metals and physicochemical parameters in surface water. The results of this study reveal that rats that live in the MRRB were exposed to concentrations of pollutants that can cause genotoxic damage, even though the concentrations of these pollutants are mostly below the safety standards. Therefore, this work highlights the importance of using methods that allow to integrate all environmental parameters in risk assessment, such as sentinel species.