Genotoxic damage in coelomocytes of Eisenia andrei exposed to urban soils.

Based on the hypothesis that urban activities can deposit chemical contaminants in soil and consequently have an impact on the vitality of key organisms of the ecosystem, the aim of the present study was to analyse genotoxicity in earthworm's coelomocytes in urban soil samples in comparison to soil samples from protected areas. Earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were exposed to soil samples for 14 days, subsequently the coelomocytes were extracted with an 10% ethanol solution and used in single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay and the micronucleus (MN) assay. The levels of copper, cadmium, lead, zinc, and arsenic were measured in monitored soil samples. Earthworms exposed to urban soils had higher levels of DNA damage, according to the results of the SCGE assay, than earthworms exposed to protected area soils. The frequency of micronuclei did not differ between the studied soil samples. There was an association between % DNA (SCGE assay) and arsenic and zinc levels. Copper, lead and zinc levels in urban soil samples exceeded the limits of legal values in Brazil. Our findings show that the genotoxicity markers we tested are sensitive to contamination and this association should be taken into account by regulatory agencies.

Biomonitoring of trace elements in urine samples of children from a coal-mining region.

Biomonitoring through urine samples is important for evaluating environmental exposure, since urine is the main form of excretion for most chemical elements. Children are considered more vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions, especially children in developing countries. This study aimed to biomonitor trace elements in urine samples in children from a coal-mining region in the extreme south of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 96 children between 6 and 11 years of age. Socioeconomic data and urine samples were collected to estimate the concentration of iron, zinc, selenium, lead, and cadmium. The prevalence of metals above the reference values was 52.0% for Se, followed by 15.6% for Zn. The data point toward a vulnerability to adverse environmental conditions in these children. Although the concentrations of the elements did not reveal intoxication cases, biomonitoring should be carried out continuously in order to assess exposure to metals and ensure the health of the population. This article provides data that help determine natural levels of metallic elements in children, specifically in South America, which have not yet been established.