The Genotoxic Effects of Heavy Metals in Fly Ash from Thermal Power Plants on Wheat, Depending on Wind Direction

Abstract

Plants, due to their fixed locations, are susceptible targets to environmental stress. Among these stresses, heavy metal stress has increased since the Industrial Revolution. Thermal power plants that utilize fossil fuels play a significant role in the release of heavy metals into the environment. This study investigates the role of air currents in the transport of fly ash from thermal power plants and its genotoxic effects on wheat using molecular methods. The mobility of retrotransposons affecting genomic stability was assessed through IRAP (Inter-Retrotransposon Amplified Polymorphism) analysis. The IRAP analysis results indicate a polymorphism rate of 54.6% in wheat seedlings located 1 km northwest of the thermal power plant. The lowest polymorphism rate, 29.66%, was observed in wheat samples 10 km east of the plant. Physical damage in the nucleus caused by heavy metals was evaluated using the comet assay, which measures tail length, tail DNA percentage, and tail moment. Similar to the IRAP analysis, significant damage was observed in the northwest, southwest, and west directions across all three parameters. The findings of this study underscore the impact of heavy metal pollution and emphasize the importance of air currents in the dispersion of these pollutants.