Cyto and genotoxicity induced by acute exposure to Novacron® Bold Deep Navy dye on Astyanax lacustris can be reduced after treatment through a vertical flow constructed wetland system

Reactive dyes used in the textile industry can be harmful to aquatic organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the potential cyto/genotoxic effects of the Novacron® Bold Deep Navy reactive dye on fish Astyanax lacustris before and after treatment through a vertical flow constructed wetland system (VFCW). Micronucleus test (MN), cellular morphological changes (CMC), and the comet assay were used to assess the effects of the dye in erythrocytes. During the experiment, A. lacustris specimens were exposed to sublethal concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L) of Novacron® Bold Deep Navy dye for 96 h. Results showed that the dye caused MN formation (27), DNA damage, and several types of CMC (3513) in all tested concentrations on A. lacustris. Notably, analyses were significant (p < 0.05) for all concentrations, except in the frequency mean of DNA damage at 10 mg/L. The bioremediation of the dye carried out by the VFCW system proved to be efficient, as confirmed by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS), and physicochemical analysis. Thus, the Novacron® Bold Deep Navy dye poses a potential risk of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity for aquatic organisms, and the VFCW system proved to be efficient in treating the dye.