The Toxological Profile of the Agrotoxic Acid 2,4 Dichlophenoxyacetic in Fleischmann® Yeast

Abstract

Pesticides are chemical substances used to ensure crop productivity. However, they can cause numerous consequences for the environment. As the 2,4-D, which even when applied with control can cause great environmental changes, because when dispersed in the environment, it reaches the different compartments of the ecosystem. Organisms absorb these substances and with bioaccumulation, deleterious effects occur that are difficult to detect, requiring test organisms that offer rapid responses. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effect of the 2,4 D pesticide on the yeast Fleischmann® and verify its application as a possible bioindicator organism. Cytotoxicity assays were performed through cell growth, using 2,4-D at concentrations (2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 µg L-1) in which the yeast FLE was incubated and at times (30, 60 and 90 min) 5µL aliquots were dropped into 96-well plates and incubated at 30°C for 72 hours. Genotoxicity was evaluated by the comet assay method and the results were presented according to the levels of DNA damage. The toxic action of the 2,4-D compound was verified at all concentrations analyzed, and within 90 min there was a greater inhibition of cell growth. The comet assay showed a greater amount of DNA damage in the yeast FLE at the concentration of 6 µg L-1. Yeast FLE showed potential to be used as a bioindicator of chemical compounds in environmental analysis.