ABSTRACT
This chapter describes three typical examples of the application of the amphibian micronucleus test to industrial or urban polluted waters: effluents from tanning industries and coke works, and urban wastes. In amphibians, the genotoxicity tests so far developed are all based on the observation of micronuclei in vivo. The amphibian micronucleus test shows most promise for in vivo evaluation of genotoxicity in polluted inland waters. The water from the river Dadou sampled downstream from the central outflow from the tanning factories in the town of Graulhet was tested at two different times: in October 1985 and four years later in November 1989 after modernization of the tanning factories. Part of ecotoxicity of industrial wastes and contaminated soils lie in the genotoxic impact on the aquatic environment. The Xenopus micronucleus test was used to evaluate genotoxicity in the outflow of the plant after biological treatment.
