Genotoxic Effects Induced by Cd +2 , Cr +6 , Cu +2 in the Gill and Liver of Odontesthes Bonariensis (piscies, Atherinopsidae)

Genotoxic effects of Cd +2 , Cr +6 , and Cu +2 on the gill and liver of the Argentinean Silverside ( Odontesthes bonariensis ) were studied using the comet assay and in relation with the metal tissue accumulation. Fish were exposed to three waterborne concentrations of each metal for 2 and 16 days. Genotoxicity was assessed by the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). After 2 days, significant increase of the genetic damage index (GDI) was only observed in the gill of fish exposed to Cr +6 and Cu +2 , and the LOECs were 2160 nM and 921.1 nM, respectively. The gill LOEC for Cd +2 by 16 days was 9.4 nM. In the liver, LOECs were obtained only for Cd +2 and Cr +6 and were 9.4 and 2160 nM, respectively. The three metals were able to induce genotoxic effects at environmentally relevant concentrations and the gill was the most sensitive organ.