CYTOTOXICITY AND GENOTOXICITY OF MELTING SNOW – A CASE STUDY OF THE SHUMEN REGION, BULGARIA

Abstract

The presence of atmospheric pollutants is regularly screened in Bulgaria. However, studies on the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of air contaminants are scarce. Snow collects pollutants from the air. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of melted snow samples from Shumen region (Bulgaria) on mitotic cells using the A. cepa test.Samples were taken from three open spaces: 1) the city of Shumen, 2) a meadow on the Shumen plateau and 3) agricultural land located about 9.5 km northeast of the town of Shumen.The samples from the Shumen city and Shumen plateau indicated the presence of water soluble cytotoxic compounds. The lack of cytotoxicity in the sample from the agricultural land was established. This proves an anthropogenic origin of cytotoxic pollutions at the other two places. These results could serve as warning signals for health preventive programs regarding air quality in Shumen and the Nature Park Shumen plateau during the winter.