Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of the Fungicide Tebuconazole Cause Genotoxicity in Juveniles of the Fish Jenynsia lineata

Abstract

The potential genotoxicity of the fungicide tebuconazole (TBZ) was evaluated in the freshwater fish Jenynsia lineata when exposed to 0.005, 0.05, 0.5 and 5 µg/L for 48 h. The study aimed to compare a TBZ commercial formulation (c.f.) with the TBZ active ingredient (a.i.) using the micronucleus (MN) and Comet assays. The study also investigated differences in tissue sensitivity between two cell populations: erythrocytes and epithelial gill cells. The MN frequency increased in blood from fish exposed to the c.f. or the a.i. at 5 µg/L TBZ compared to the negative control. The Comet assay revealed increased DNA damage at 0.05, 0.5 and 5 µg/L of a.i., and at 0.5 and 5 µg/L of c.f. The sensitivity of the epithelial gill cells was comparable to that of erythrocytes, enabling these cell types to be used indistinctly. We recommend including these DNA damage biomarkers in the batteries used to study the effects of current use pesticides.