Evaluation of the genotoxicity of vehicular traffic-related atmospheric pollutants through biomonitoring with Tradescantia pallida var. purpurea

Abstract

Intense traffic areas generate complex compounds of pollutants with different physical-chemical characteristics and toxicities, and some plants are often used as bioindicators of air quality, due to their sensitivity and ability to accumulate harmful substances. In this scenario, the Trad-MCN assay has proven to be reliable for assessing genotoxicity resulting from air pollution. This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxic effect caused by air pollutants related to vehicle traffic in different sectors of the city of Irati, Paraná, Brazil, using Tradescantia pallida var. purpurea microsporogenesis analysis. Three collections of floral buds were made in seven locations with three levels of traffic: high (trucks, urban transport buses, and private cars), moderate (private cars and urban transport buses), and low (mostly private cars). Cytological analysis showed abnormalities in all phases of meiosis, especially in metaphases and anaphases, in all analyzed points. The abnormalities found included unorganized bivalent chromosomes, irregular chromosome segregation, adhesions, and anaphase bridges, forming tetrads of microspores with micronuclei. The region with the highest vehicular traffic presented a higher frequency of meiotic abnormalities, with 30.4% of the total number of analyzed cells, indicating higher emission of potentially genotoxic pollutants in this region.