Efeitos genotóxicos em tétrades de tradescantia pallida var. Purpurea (commelinaceae) induzidos por poluentes atmosféricos na cidade de Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brasil

Atmospheric biomonitoring allows the assessment of air quality in large areas using living organisms that respond to pollution by changing their functions or accumulating toxins. This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxicity of atmospheric air in the city of Joinville with the use of the Micronucleus Test on Tradescantia (Trad-MCN). Five flowerbeds ornamented with Tradescantia pallida were used as sample points: Point 1 in the Municipal Cemetery; Point 2 in a segment of São Paulo Street; Point 3 in the Public Market; Point 4 on Albano Schmidt Street; and Point 5 in a segment of Dr. João Colin Street. After the selection of the sample points, the chromosome assays were performed by means of the micronucleus count in the plant system. The analyzes were done under optical microscope (400X) and the number of MCNs in 300 tetrads was counted on each slide. No significant differences were observed between MCN frequencies at different sample points. Statistical analyzes revealed that the mean frequency of MCN was between 0.84% and 0.56%. Although Joinville is a strong industrial power in the state and a region in constant development, the data obtained show that atmospheric air pollution did not provoke an increase in the MCN frequency of the study plant.