Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of textile production effluents in Astyanax lacustris (Pisces, Characidae), before and after treatment through the vertical flow constructed wetland system

Abstract Textile effluents have a complex physical, chemical, and biological composition, and may have mutagenic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic activity. Part of the dyes used in the textile industry is lost during the dyeing process and released into bodies of water, contaminating the aquatic environment. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the cyto/genotoxic effects of textile production effluents on Astyanax lacustris specimens, before and after treatment through the vertical flow constructed wetland system (VFCW). We tested 60 fish (five treatment conditions, four fish per condition, in triplicate). Fish were exposed to contaminants for 7 days. The assays used were biomarker analysis, the micronucleus (MN) test, analysis of cellular morphological changes (CMC), and the comet assay. The concentration of 5% v/v of raw textile effluent, and the effluents treated by VFCW, showed damage significantly different from the controls. The VFCW system proved to be efficient in reducing the physicochemical parameters of effluents from textile production. We conclude that the biodegradation of textile production effluents can be accomplished with VFCW.