Use of Biomphalaria glabrata as a bioindicator of groundwater quality under the influence of NORM

The Brazilian northeast is known to have sedimentary areas that contain minerals with anomalous concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). This characteristic can contribute to the elevation of natural radiation in the air, soil, and groundwater. Due to the inefficiency of dr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental radioactivity 2022-02, Vol.242, p.106791-106791, Article 106791
Main Authors: Morais, Vinícius Henrique T., de Luna Filho, Ricardo Luiz C., dos Santos Júnior, José A., Siqueira, Williams N., Pereira, Dewson R., Lima, Maíra V., Fagundes Silva, Hianna A.M., Joacir de França, Elvis, Amaral, Romilton dos S., de Albuquerque Melo, Ana Maria M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biomphalaria
Biomphalaria glabrata
Drinking Water
Environmental Biomarkers
Groundwater
NORM
Radiation Monitoring
Trace elements
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Summary:The Brazilian northeast is known to have sedimentary areas that contain minerals with anomalous concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). This characteristic can contribute to the elevation of natural radiation in the air, soil, and groundwater. Due to the inefficiency of drinking water distribution in this region, the use of water from wells has become essential for the population. Therefore, the objective of this research was to monitor the concentration of 238U and 232Th associated with biomonitoring with the species of mollusc Biomphalaria glabrata in waters of residential artesian wells, used for domestic consumption, in the municipalities of Abreu e Lima and São José do Sabugi, Brazil. To check the concentration of 238U and 232Th, ICP-MS was used. For biomonitoring, ecotoxicity techniques such as embryotoxicity and genotoxicity were used. The monitoring results confirmed high concentrations of natural uranium in one of the residential artesian wells, the data being above the limit allowed by the Ministry of Health of Brazil, whose study reference is the World Health Organization (WHO). The results of the bioassays showed embryotoxicity, with malformations and deaths in the exposed organisms being observed. The comet assay showed that groundwater caused changes in the mollusc's DNA, indicating genotoxicity. The bioassays suggest that embryotoxicity and genotoxicity were caused mainly by the high concentration of natural uranium. Therefore, the bioindicator B. glabrata was shown to be sensitive to the toxic effects of anomalous concentrations of NORM present in groundwater. [Display omitted] •The presence of large concentration of natural uranium was found in one of the residential artesian wells in this study.•Genotoxicity caused by natural uranium was positive for the mollusc Biomphalaria glabrata.•Occurred Embryotoxicity caused by natural uranium to the embryos of Biomphalaria glabrata.•The mollusc of the species Biomphalaria glabrata proved to be a bioindicator sensitive to NORM.
ISSN:0265-931X
1879-1700
DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106791