Assessment of Environmental Contamination by Wastewater from a Cocoa Processing Industry Using Genetic and Reproductive Biomarkers

Abstract

Food industries are among the major contributors to industrial wastes. Their wastewaters can pose a threat if untreated and indiscriminately disposed into the environment. In this study, we investigated the potential genetic and reproductive toxicity of Cocoa processing industry wastewater, by using the mouse Micronucleus (MN) and sperm morphology assays, respectively. Some of the physico-chemical properties of the wastewater were also determined. The bioassays were carried out at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50% of the wastewater. Assessment of sperm shape showed that the fraction of the sperm that was abnormal in shape was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than the negative control value. There was also a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the mean sperm count of the exposed mice compared to the control. MN analysis showed a concentration dependent induction of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes across the treatment groups. These observations were provoked by the toxic and genotoxic constituents present in test sample. The tested Cocoa processing wastewater is a potentially genotoxic agent and germ cell mutagen, and may induce adverse health effects in exposed individuals.