Study on the genotoxicity of the polycyclic aromatic hidrocarbon (PAH) benzo[a]pyrene in the food chain: prey-predator interaction

Abstract

The Policyclyc aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic pollutants usually found in coastal environments and the marine organisms can be suitable indicators of these contaminants in ecosystems. The PAHs biotransformation performed by different animals invertebrates and vertebrates, yields reactive oxygen substances (ROS), which are responsible for genotoxicity, may be produced through the trophic chain contamination. At this project, the Benzo[a]pyrene genotoxicity will be experimentally assessed through the prey-predator relationship, in which seabob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri 24h exposed to different benzo[a]pyrene concentrations will be fed by fat snook fish Centropomus parallelus, for 15 days. The rate of contamination will be investigated through the benzo[a]pyrene and bile metabolites concentrations of the muscle and bile of X. kroyeri and C. parallels, respectively. The genotoxicity degree will be determined by the Comet Assay, micronuclei and nuclear abnormality of cells from hemolymph and blood of X. kroyeri and C. parallelus, respectively. (AU)