Bioensaio toxicológico com cianobactérias do efluente da lagoa de estabilização e do Igarapé Grande, Boa Vista, Roraima

Abstract

The study aimed to access the presence of toxic planktonic cyanobacteria by mouse bioassay in the outflow of the stabilization pond and in the Igarapé Grande, Boa Vista, RR. The waterbodies under study are located in the urban area of Boa Vista, and are influenced by the final discharge of the domestic sewage from nearby residents and effluents of the sewage treatment plant from the city. Previous research has established the presence of cyanobacterial blooms in this environment. However, there was a lack of studies on the toxicity of the cyanobacteria that bloom in the stabilization pond system and adjacent Igarapé Grande. The study area was geo-referenced and named as E1 (upstream of the sewage treatment plant outflow), located in the Igarapé Grande, E2 (outflow/gutter), and E3 (downstream of the outflow), also in the Igarapé Grande. It was performed three sample collections during the dry season and three during the rainy season. At the time of the samplings measurements of pH and water temperature were carried out. It was also collected samples for the estimation of chlorophyll-a, ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, turbidity and cell density evaluation. We observed the presence of the cyanobacteria of the genus Planktothrix agardhii during all the sampled months in both seasons (dry and rainy), confirming the city sewage treatment plant as the main source of entry of this species in the Igarapé Grande. It was also confirmed that the distribution of the organisms on the water surface affects the physico chemical quality of the Igarapé Grande. Statistical analysis enabled the identification of ammonia as the parameter of greatest contribution to the toxicity in the sampled locations. In addition, confirmation was obtained by the chemometric tests PCA, FA, HCA and PLS. The mouse bioassay tests (LD50 - 24h) showed toxicity at doses above 2,500 mg.Kg-1 b.w. and at concentrations of cell extract over 50 mg mL-¹. The higher mortality occurred in 75% of individuals in the group that received concentrations of 100 mg mL-¹ of the material collected at E3 during the dry season. The results of E2 sampling station showed mortality of 25% of individuals at extract concentration of 50 mg mL-¹; 25% of individuals at 100 mg mL-¹ and 75% of individuals at concentration of 150 mg mL-¹ from the samples collected during the rainy season.