Drosophila melanogaster as model organism for monitoring and analyzing genotoxicity associated with city air pollution.

This study evaluated the genotoxic potential of atmospheric pollution associated with urbanization using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and the Comet assay with hemolymph cells. Larvae were exposed to atmospheric compounds in an urban and a rural area in the municipality of Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil, for 6 days (from the embryo stage to the third larval stage) in April 2015 and April 2017. The results were compared to a negative environmental control group exposed to a preserved area (Catimbau National Park) and to a negative control exposed to the laboratory room conditions. The Comet assay demonstrated significant genetic damage in the organisms exposed to the urban area compared with those exposed to the rural area and negative control groups. The evidences were supported by particulate matter analysis showing higher photopeaks of chemical elements such as aluminum, silicon, sulfur, potassium, calcium, titanium, and iron, associated to road dust fraction in urban environment. Once again, the results confirm D. melanogaster an ideal bioindicator organism to monitor genotoxic hazard associated with atmospheric pollution.