Bioassays with <i>Allium cepa</i> for the Monitoring of Toxicity in the Groundwater of Yucatan, Mexico

This study employed the <i>Allium cepa</i> bioassay to evaluate the toxic effects of contaminants in the Yucatan aquifer. Seven monitoring wells were studied during September and October 2021. Nutrient concentrations showed significant variation between sites, with samples closer to the...

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Main Authors: Loremy Yehudí Cauich-Suárez, Víctor Emmanuel Sánchez-Sánchez, Gissela Moreno-Ortiz, Elsa Noreña-Barroso, Gabriela Rodríguez-Fuentes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/23/11428
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author Loremy Yehudí Cauich-Suárez
Víctor Emmanuel Sánchez-Sánchez
Gissela Moreno-Ortiz
Elsa Noreña-Barroso
Gabriela Rodríguez-Fuentes
author_facet Loremy Yehudí Cauich-Suárez
Víctor Emmanuel Sánchez-Sánchez
Gissela Moreno-Ortiz
Elsa Noreña-Barroso
Gabriela Rodríguez-Fuentes
author_sort Loremy Yehudí Cauich-Suárez
collection DOAJ
description This study employed the <i>Allium cepa</i> bioassay to evaluate the toxic effects of contaminants in the Yucatan aquifer. Seven monitoring wells were studied during September and October 2021. Nutrient concentrations showed significant variation between sites, with samples closer to the coast (P3 and P7) presenting higher ammonia and phosphate concentrations. The pesticides found at the highest concentration were δ-HCH and chlorpyrifos, with 141.44 and 175.92 ng/L, respectively. Heptachlor and aldrin were present in sites P4oct and P2sept. Interestingly, DDT values were highly correlated with caffeine concentrations. The PAHs acenaphthylene and the sum of B(k)fluoranthene and B(b)fluoranthene presented the highest prevalence. B(k)fluoranthene and B(b)fluoranthene were the PAHs found at the highest concentration. The results of the <i>A. cepa</i> bioassay indicated no nuclear abnormalities. The study also found no statistical differences in the mitotic index, root length, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and inhibition of B-esterases between sites and controls. In summary, the wells sampled in the present study had low concentrations of contaminants that can be used as a proxy of anthropogenic discharges; the lack of effect in the biomarkers used at organism, cellular, and biochemical levels indicated no toxic effect on <i>A. cepa</i> roots.
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spelling doaj-art-66d13a48ce474074ba7d704c680fb8ed2025-08-20T02:38:43ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-0114231142810.3390/app142311428Bioassays with <i>Allium cepa</i> for the Monitoring of Toxicity in the Groundwater of Yucatan, MexicoLoremy Yehudí Cauich-Suárez0Víctor Emmanuel Sánchez-Sánchez1Gissela Moreno-Ortiz2Elsa Noreña-Barroso3Gabriela Rodríguez-Fuentes4Posgado en Ciencias del Mary Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, MexicoDepartamento de Química y Tecnología Ambiental, Universidad Tecnológica de Rodeo, Carr. Federal Panamericana Km 159 4 Eta. Rodeo, Durango 35760, MexicoPosgado en Ciencias del Mary Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, MexicoUnidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal 97356, MexicoUnidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal 97356, MexicoThis study employed the <i>Allium cepa</i> bioassay to evaluate the toxic effects of contaminants in the Yucatan aquifer. Seven monitoring wells were studied during September and October 2021. Nutrient concentrations showed significant variation between sites, with samples closer to the coast (P3 and P7) presenting higher ammonia and phosphate concentrations. The pesticides found at the highest concentration were δ-HCH and chlorpyrifos, with 141.44 and 175.92 ng/L, respectively. Heptachlor and aldrin were present in sites P4oct and P2sept. Interestingly, DDT values were highly correlated with caffeine concentrations. The PAHs acenaphthylene and the sum of B(k)fluoranthene and B(b)fluoranthene presented the highest prevalence. B(k)fluoranthene and B(b)fluoranthene were the PAHs found at the highest concentration. The results of the <i>A. cepa</i> bioassay indicated no nuclear abnormalities. The study also found no statistical differences in the mitotic index, root length, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and inhibition of B-esterases between sites and controls. In summary, the wells sampled in the present study had low concentrations of contaminants that can be used as a proxy of anthropogenic discharges; the lack of effect in the biomarkers used at organism, cellular, and biochemical levels indicated no toxic effect on <i>A. cepa</i> roots.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/23/11428<i>Allium cepa</i>biomonitoringpesticidesPAHsnutrientsMexico
spellingShingle Loremy Yehudí Cauich-Suárez
Víctor Emmanuel Sánchez-Sánchez
Gissela Moreno-Ortiz
Elsa Noreña-Barroso
Gabriela Rodríguez-Fuentes
Bioassays with <i>Allium cepa</i> for the Monitoring of Toxicity in the Groundwater of Yucatan, Mexico
Applied Sciences
<i>Allium cepa</i>
biomonitoring
pesticides
PAHs
nutrients
Mexico
title Bioassays with <i>Allium cepa</i> for the Monitoring of Toxicity in the Groundwater of Yucatan, Mexico
title_full Bioassays with <i>Allium cepa</i> for the Monitoring of Toxicity in the Groundwater of Yucatan, Mexico
title_fullStr Bioassays with <i>Allium cepa</i> for the Monitoring of Toxicity in the Groundwater of Yucatan, Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Bioassays with <i>Allium cepa</i> for the Monitoring of Toxicity in the Groundwater of Yucatan, Mexico
title_short Bioassays with <i>Allium cepa</i> for the Monitoring of Toxicity in the Groundwater of Yucatan, Mexico
title_sort bioassays with i allium cepa i for the monitoring of toxicity in the groundwater of yucatan mexico
topic <i>Allium cepa</i>
biomonitoring
pesticides
PAHs
nutrients
Mexico
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/23/11428
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