SAFETY ASPECTS OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE’S DRAINAGE WATER

Life Science-Environmental sciences

Abstract

Effluent discharges of educational institutions as a possible source of environmental pollution has not been reported yet. Therefore, preliminary analysis of these effluents was carried out to assess the genotoxic potential along with the physicochemical parameters. In the present study, effluent samples were collected during pollution loading period and non-loading period from different educational institute’s drainage. Tap water was also collected as influent water source to compare the effluent water quality with it. Collected effleunts were analyzed for pH, temperature; BOD, COD and genotoxicity by Ames test using S.typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 at 5 doses level i.e. 2 µl, 5µl, 10 µl, 50 µl and 100 µl. Compared to tap water, Educational Institute’s drainage water was found to be polluted and genotoxic with either one strain or both strain of S.typhimurium which reveals the presence of frameshift and basepair mutagens in it. These genotoxicants may arise in effluent due to use of various chemicals, dyes etc. in experiments or may be produced due to the interaction of various chemicals in the effluent. Level of genotoxicants was found to be higher in experimental timings as compared to non-experimental timings. Further, the genotoxic effect reduced with the addition of S9mix. Hence, our study clearly indicates the presence of genotoxicants in the Educational Institute’s drainage water and it can be a new source of environmental pollution. It is unsafe for discharge in untreated form.