EVALUATION OF DNA, PROTEIN, AND LIPID DAMAGE IN CAPNELLA SP EXPOSED TO SEDIMENTABLE ATMOSPHERIC PARTICULATE MATTER

Abstract

The mining and steel industries generate high emissions of pollutants, including atmospheric particulate matter (APM). As APM disperses, various ecosystems, including aquatic systems, become contaminated. Organisms may experience physiological imbalances when exposed to the toxic elements present in APM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of the biotransformation enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the potential damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids in the coral species Capnella sp., exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of APM (0.1 and 1 g/L) for 96 hours. In the studied timeframe and concentrations, APM did not cause alterations in GST activity or induce damage to lipids and DNA. Protein damage, however, was observed in a concentration-dependent manner within the studied period in Capnella sp. Further studies are needed to better understand the effects of APM regarding its toxicity to aquatic organisms.

Keywords: coral; particulate matter; biochemical damage; oxidative; stress.