Genotoxicity of European chub (Squalius cephalus L. 1758) erythrocytes as an effective indicator in monitoring of water bodies under different pollution pressure

Abstract

The objective of our study was to investigate ecological status of two water bodies in Serbia, Lake Kruščica, and River Ibar. The comet assay was selected as an in vivo and in situ test for measuring DNA damage in chub’s erythrocytes, as an bioindicator of genotoxic potential of water. We have also investigated physico-chemical parameters and microbiological indicators (coliforms, E.coli) as parameters for general pollution pressure and a basis for determination of ecological status of these water bodies. Lake Kruščica is a protected natural area of great importance with very low or none anthropogenic impact, used as a drinking water source. River Ibar is under intensive multisource pressure pollution consisted of: communal untreated waters, industrial, agricultural and mining activities. Specimens of chub analyzed in this study naturally inhabit these water bodies, which gave us an excellent opportunity to compare protected site with site where mixture of various xenobiotics from water have a direct and adverse impacts over period of time. According to physico-chemical parameters and microbiological indicators, Lake Kruščica falls into the first category of ecological status, while River Ibar showed poor to critical water quality. DNA damage in chub erythrocytes was significantly higher at River Ibar compared to Lake Kruscica, which indicates the notable difference in pollution pressure. Given its tolerance to anthropogenic perturbations, and its cosmopolite distributions, chub gives an advantage for extensive studies of genotoxicity dynamics of freshwater systems.