Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity assay of water sampled from natural reservoirs with contrast level of radioactive and chemical contamination

¹ Institute of Biology, Komi Scientific Center, Ural Division RAS, Kommunisticheskaya 28, 167982 Syktyvkar, Russia
² Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, 249020 Obninsk, Russia

Abstract

Comparative analysis of water from natural reservoirs located near a place of the underground nuclear explosion with rock outburst (Perm region) and the radium production industry storage cell (Komi Republic) with contrast levels of radioactive and chemical contamination was performed for the first time using bioindication and chemical analysis. Bioindication was carried out with anaphase-telophase chromosome aberration assay on A. schoenoprasum L. meristematic root tip cells. Even at very low levels of specific activity, both natural (²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁰Po, ²¹⁰Pb) and artificial (⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, Pu) radionuclides contribute significantly (59-91 %) to an induction of genotoxic and toxic effects. The chemical factors strengthened or weakened the cytotoxicity effects and may modify a formation of certain type of chromosome disturbances. Our results clearly indicate that combined exposure to metal ions and radionuclides at levels officially adopted as permissible for humans may act synergistically and result in significant damage to different biota species.