Mutagenicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by pesticide industry wastewater using bacterial and plant bioassays

Atomic absorption spectrophotometer and gas chromatography analysis revealed the presence of heavy metals, organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides in industrial wastewater. XAD, Dichloromethane and n-Hexane extracted wastewater were analysed for genotoxic potential using Ames Salmonella/mammalian microsome test. The XAD concentrated sample displayed remarkable mutagenic activity compared to solvent assisted liquid–liquid extraction. Strain TA98 was found utmost sensitive towards all extracts. Wastewater induced chromosomal aberrations in roots of Allium cepa showed significant (p < 0.05) decrease in mitotic index. Seeds of Vigna radiata germinated on soft agar plates treated with different concentration of wastewater showed significant reduction in germination (52 %), seedling vigor index (76 %), radicle length (56 %), plumule length (47 %), biomass of radicle (64 %) and plumule (57%) at highest wastewater concentration. Propidium iodide stained V. radiata roots showed oxidative stress induced by wastewater under CLS microscopy. Further, genotoxicity of wastewater was confirmed by plasmid nicking assay using pBR322 plasmid.