Genotoxic and histopathological biomarkers for assessing the effects of magnetic exfoliated vermiculite and exfoliated vermiculite in Danio rerio

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2016-05, Vol.551-552, p.228-237
• Main Authors: Cáceres-Vélez, Paolin Rocio, Fascineli, Maria Luiza, Koppe Grisolia, Cesar, de Oliveira Lima, Emília Celma, Sousa, Marcelo Henrique, de Morais, Paulo César, Bentes de Azevedo, Ricardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum Silicates - toxicity; Animals; Bioindicators; Biomarkers - metabolism; Danio rerio; Ecotoxicology; Iron oxide nanoparticles; Mutagens - toxicity; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water purification; Zebrafish; Zebrafish - physiology
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.048

Magnetic exfoliated vermiculite is a synthetic nanocomposite that quickly and efficiently absorbs organic compounds such as oil from water bodies. It was developed primarily to mitigate pollution, but the possible adverse impacts of its application have not yet been evaluated. In this context, the acute toxicity of magnetic exfoliated vermiculite and exfoliated vermiculite was herein assessed by genotoxic and histopathological biomarkers in zebrafish (Danio rerio). DNA fragmentation was statistically significant for all groups exposed to the magnetic exfoliated vermiculite and for fish exposed to the highest concentration (200mg/L) of exfoliated vermiculite, whereas the micronucleus frequency, nuclear abnormalities and histopathological alterations were not statistically significant for the fish exposed to these materials. In the intestinal lumen, epithelial cells and goblet cells, we found the presence of magnetic exfoliated vermiculite and exfoliated vermiculite, but no alterations or presence of the materials-test in the gills or liver were observed. Our findings suggest that the use of magnetic exfoliated vermiculite and exfoliated vermiculite during standard ecotoxicological assays caused DNA damage in D. rerio, whose alterations may be likely to be repaired, indicating that the magnetic nanoparticles have the ability to promote genotoxic damage, such as DNA fragmentation, but not mutagenic effects. [Display omitted] •MEV is a synthetic nanocomposite that quickly and efficiently absorbs organic compounds such as oil from water bodies.•The use of MEV and EV during standard ecotoxicological assays caused DNA fragmentation in zebrafish.•The magnetic nanoparticles showed ability to promote genotoxic damage, but did not induce micronucleus in peripheral erythrocytes at 96 h of exposure.•The tested concentrations of MEV and EV do not cause significant histopathological alterations in the gills, liver and intestine of zebrafish.