The lower basin of Coatzacoalcos River is one of the most polluted regions of the southern Gulf of Mexico. Organochlorine compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals have been registered in this region. In the present study, genotoxicity was evaluated in the blood of giant toads (Rhinella marina) from Coatzacoalcos’ rural and industrial zones, and compared with laboratory toads. Determination of the frequency of micronucleus and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities by the light microscope and cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry were used as biomarkers of genotoxicity. We found more variability in micronucleus and more nuclear buds in toads from industrial zones. Also, cell cycle alterations and an increase of apoptosis in erythrocytes were found in toads from rural and industrial zones. Multivariate statistics show that the toads from the industrial zone were more affected than toads from laboratory and rural zones.

夸察夸尔科斯河下游流域是墨西哥湾南部污染最严重的地区之一。有机氯化合物、多溴联苯醚、多环芳烃和重金属已在该地区登记。在本研究中，评估了巨蟾（ Rhinella marina）血液中的遗传毒性。) 来自 Coatzacoalcos 的农村和工业区，并与实验室蟾蜍进行了比较。光学显微镜测定微核和红细胞核异常的频率，流式细胞仪测定细胞周期和细胞凋亡作为遗传毒性的生物标志物。我们发现工业区蟾蜍的微核变异更大，核芽也更多。此外，在农村和工业区的蟾蜍中发现了细胞周期改变和红细胞凋亡增加。多变量统计表明，工业区蟾蜍比实验室和农村地区的蟾蜍受影响更大。