Evaluation of environmental waters using the comet assay in Tilapia rendalli

Testing for environmental pollutants is an ever-growing concern. Various tests in organisms have been utilized for the detection and identification of toxic substances in the air, water and soil. In the present study, we utilized the comet assay in Tilapia rendalli to conduct an environmental assessment of Lake Igapo II, a lake located in the metropolitan area of Londrina, PR-Brazil. The results demonstrated that samples from Lake Igapo II had a significantly greater number of comets, mainly in classes 2 and 3. The results suggest a genotoxicity of the aquatic environment at Lake Igapo II and that the comet assay in T. rendalli provides adequate sensitivity to be utilized as a tool in the monitoring of water pollution and environmental risk assessment. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.