In vitro genotoxicity of wastewaters from the town of Settat, Morocco.

In recent years, the town of Settat has seen a considerable industrial growth, which has resulted in increased environmental pollution. This includes pollution by household and industrial wastewaters, which are released into the Boumoussa River without any preliminary treatment. The river valley crosses the community of Mzamza 8 km to the north of the town. Years of drought forced members of the community to use this polluted ground water for irrigation and put themselves and the environment at risk.The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical and metal profile of Settat wastewaters and to assess their impact on the water table. The second objective was to investigate the genotoxic potential of wastewater on human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro, using the micronucleus test and cellular proliferation index.This study demonstrated significant pollution of Boumoussa valley groundwater and of the local wells. Sampled water induced a clear increase in the frequency of micronucleated cells and a lower cell proliferation in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro.

Cytogenetic monitoring of domestic mammals exposed to wastewaters from the localities of Dladla and Boukallou near Settat, Morocco.

The aim of this work was to know the biological impact of wastewaters on livestock in the localities of Dladla and Boukallou (Town of Settat, Morocco), where wastewaters are largely used by the local population for their agricultural activities. We used the micronucleus (MN) test in cytochalasin B blocked binucleated cells (BNC) to assess the possible induced genetic effects. The cellular proliferation index (PI) was also calculated. Blood samples were collected from sheep, bovines and mules and peripheral blood cultures were made according to our laboratories' standard methodology. The results showed a significant increase of micronucleated cells in the lymphocytes of the exposed animals (14+/-8.79 MN/500 BNC) compared to the control (3+/-1.54 MN/500 BNC). The PI showed a nonsignificant decrease in the exposed animals. The highest MN frequency was found in mules which is probably due to their more sedentary life. Direct use of the wastewater by the animals as their source of drinking water significantly increased the frequency of cells with micronuclei. We also established an inverse correlation between the chromosome number and the PI. These results suggest a serious degradation of the ecosystem due to the wastewaters with a direct impact on its inhabitants.