The lizard Phyllopezus pollicaris (Spix, 1825) as a bioindicator of exposure to natural background radiation in a semi-arid region of Brazil

IF 2.8 4区医学 Q3 BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY

Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-08-18 DOI:10.1016/j.mrgentox.2026.503958

Leticia Gurgel Bezerra Medeiros Cavalcanti, Julio Alejandro Navoni, Viviane Souza do Amaral, Raul Fernandes Dantas Sales, Eliza Maria Xavier Freire

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Abstract

This study investigated the potential of the lizard Phyllopezus pollicaris as a bioindicator of genotoxic damage caused by exposure to ionizing radiation in uranium-rich areas of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. The hypothesis tested was that P. pollicaris is sensitive to ionizing radiation due to its wide distribution and generalist ecological behavior and may exhibit cytogenetic effects in areas with high natural background radiation. Blood samples were collected from specimens in three localities with medium to high natural background radiation levels in the Seridó Caatinga and were compared with samples from a low-radiation area, the Mata Estrela Reserve in the Atlantic Forest. Cytogenetic analyses were conducted by assessing the frequency of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes using the micronucleus test. The results indicated a significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in specimens from areas with high natural background radiation compared to the absence of micronuclei (MN) in individuals from the Mata Estrela reference (non-exposed) area. Thus, this study suggests a link between ionizing radiation and genotoxic damage, highlighting the potential of P. pollicaris as a bioindicator of environmental quality in areas with high natural background radiation, such as the Seridó region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

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在巴西半干旱区，蜥蜴policaris Phyllopezus （Spix, 1825）作为自然本底辐射暴露的生物指示物

本研究调查了巴西北部大德州富铀地区，policphyllopezus policaris蜥蜴作为电离辐射暴露引起的基因毒性损伤生物指标的潜力。本研究的假设是，由于其广泛的分布和广泛的生态行为，对电离辐射敏感，并且可能在自然本底辐射高的地区表现出细胞遗传学效应。血液样本采集于Seridó Caatinga自然本底辐射水平中高的三个地点，并与大西洋森林Mata Estrela保护区低辐射地区的样本进行比较。细胞遗传学分析是通过使用微核试验评估红细胞微核和其他核异常的频率来进行的。结果表明，与来自Mata Estrela参考（未暴露）地区的个体没有微核（MN）相比，来自高自然本底辐射地区的标本中微核和其他核异常的频率显著增加。因此，这项研究表明电离辐射与基因毒性损伤之间存在联系，强调了policaris作为高自然本底辐射地区（如巴西北部里约热内卢Grande do Norte的Seridó地区）环境质量生物指标的潜力。

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来源期刊

Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis 生物-毒理学

CiteScore

3.80

自引率

5.30%

发文量

审稿时长

105 days

期刊介绍： Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis (MRGTEM) publishes papers advancing knowledge in the field of genetic toxicology. Papers are welcomed in the following areas: New developments in genotoxicity testing of chemical agents (e.g. improvements in methodology of assay systems and interpretation of results). Alternatives to and refinement of the use of animals in genotoxicity testing. Nano-genotoxicology, the study of genotoxicity hazards and risks related to novel man-made nanomaterials. Studies of epigenetic changes in relation to genotoxic effects. The use of structure-activity relationships in predicting genotoxic effects. The isolation and chemical characterization of novel environmental mutagens. The measurement of genotoxic effects in human populations, when accompanied by quantitative measurements of environmental or occupational exposures. The application of novel technologies for assessing the hazard and risks associated with genotoxic substances (e.g. OMICS or other high-throughput approaches to genotoxicity testing). MRGTEM is now accepting submissions for a new section of the journal: Current Topics in Genotoxicity Testing, that will be dedicated to the discussion of current issues relating to design, interpretation and strategic use of genotoxicity tests. This section is envisaged to include discussions relating to the development of new international testing guidelines, but also to wider topics in the field. The evaluation of contrasting or opposing viewpoints is welcomed as long as the presentation is in accordance with the journal''s aims, scope, and policies.