Resumo

PRIETO-GARCIA, Francisco et al. Daños tóxicos en tejidos vegetales sensibles producidos por aguas contaminadas con arsénico en Zimapán, Hidalgo, México    . Bioagro [online]. 2005, vol.17, n.3, pp.137-141. ISSN 1316-3361.

ABSTRACT  Studies made in the last decade in waters of wells, chain dumps and springs of the municipality of Zimapán, Hidalgo State, Mexico, have shown an increase in the arsenic content that surpasses the maximum limit established by the Mexican Official Norms. In this study the arsenic content was evaluated in water samples, and Vicia faba plants were used in a bioassay to assess the genotoxic damage when using this water by means of the micronuclei induction test. A well water of similar characteristic from the municipality of Pachuca, but with low arsenic content, was used as a control test. The results showed that the water of this region presents high arsenic levels and can cause genotoxic effects by the induction of micronuclei in the meristematic root cells of susceptible plants. It was also shown that the citotoxic effects can mask the genotoxic effects on the plant.

Palavras-chave : Bioaccumulation; bioassays; Vicia faba; toxicity.