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Biomonitoring of the genotoxic potential (micronucleus and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities assay) of the Admiralty Bay water surrounding the Brazilian Antarctic Research Station “Comandante Ferraz,” King George Island

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Abstract

The micronucleus (Mn) and other kinds of erythrocyte nuclear abnormality (ENA) assays were used to assess the genotoxic potential of the seawater in front of the Brazilian Antarctic Research Station “Comandante Ferraz” (King George Island). In two consecutive summers, the fish Trematomus newnesi was exposed to the seawater in front of the fuel storage tanks and the sewage discharge outlet of the Station in laboratory bioassays and in situ caging assays. After the exposure, frequencies of ENA and Mn were scored on blood smears. Significantly higher Mn and ENA frequencies in relation to those of the controls were observed in fish exposed to both types of water, in both types of experiment. Seawater in front of the fuel tanks and sewage discharge outlet at the Station was found to induce the formation of micronuclei and other ENAs, indicators of genotoxicity. The need for further investigation and the suitability of the methods for screening mutagenic pollution in polar waters are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq) for its financial support, the “Secretaria da Comissão Interministerial para os Recursos do Mar” (SECIRM), and the “Instituto Oceanográfico” of the University of São Paulo for their logistic support. We thank the staff of the Brazilian Antarctic Research Station “Comandante Ferraz” for their assistance and hospitality. Phan Van Ngan, Keyi A. Ussami, Débora, Y. F. Campos, and Bruna A. Pereira thank the CNPq for grant and scholarships. We also thank the anonymous referees for their constructive comments and suggestions.

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  1. Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, CEP05508-900, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Phan Van Ngan, Vicente Gomes, Maria José A. C. R. Passos, Keyi A. Ussami, Débora Y. F. Campos, Arthur José da Silva Rocha & Bruna A. Pereira

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  1. Phan Van Ngan
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  2. Vicente Gomes
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  3. Maria José A. C. R. Passos
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Correspondence to Phan Van Ngan.

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Van Ngan, P., Gomes, V., Passos, M.J.A.C.R. et al. Biomonitoring of the genotoxic potential (micronucleus and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities assay) of the Admiralty Bay water surrounding the Brazilian Antarctic Research Station “Comandante Ferraz,” King George Island. Polar Biol 30, 209–217 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0174-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0174-x

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