Assessment of Genotoxic Effects of Soil From Open Landfill in Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines

Abstract

Soil degradation caused by improper management of wastes is becoming rampant and is considered one of the major concerns in the environment. Thus, this study primarily aimed to assess the genotoxic effect of polluted soil on Allium cepa. The present study involves genotoxicity of soil samples collected from Bibirao open dumpsite, employing chromosomal aberration assay in root tip cells of Allium cepa using root dip mode of treatment. The samples were computed via one-way ANOVA and independent samples t-test to determine the difference of mitotic index and chromosomal aberrations among the treatments. Mitotic Index (MI) was higher in control samples at 24 h and 48 h than the rest of the treatment groups. However, the difference of the Mitotic Index in treatment is significantly varied in different concentrations but this was not dose and duration-dependent. The occurrence of chromosomal aberrations was more prominent in control treatments in 24 h (14.7 ± 3.57) and 48 h (9.09 ± 2.45) than in treatment groups. The preparations from root tip cells of treated Allium cepa bulbs showed different types of chromosomal aberrations which were apportioned into physiological aberrations (c-mitosis, delayed anaphases, stickiness, laggards, vagrants) and clastogenic aberrations (chromosomal breaks, chromatin bridge and ring chromosomes). The frequency of cells with c-mitosis was found to be maximum followed by laggards which were found in metaphase and anaphase. Moreover, the Chromosomal Aberration (CA) between the treatment groups and the control treatment is not dose and duration-dependent. The greater number of aberrations in the control treatment might be considered to occur during its root development prior to root tip treatment. The study indicates a potential genotoxicity in the soil samples but further studies should be conducted focusing on soil quality assessment.