Upstream-downstream pollution gradient of carbendazim in Pazarsuyu (Giresun) stream: Spectral shift signatures and synergistic genotoxic and meristematic responses in Alliumcepa.

Environmental concentrations of carbendazim in Pazarsuyu Stream cause significant genotoxic and meristematic damage in Allium cepa, with effects amplified by pollutant interactions.

• Why it matters: Understanding how pesticides like carbendazim impact aquatic ecosystems is crucial, especially when multiple pollutants interact synergistically, increasing ecological risks beyond individual effects.
• What they did: Researchers collected water samples from five sites along the stream, measured carbendazim levels, and used Allium cepa bioassays to assess oxidative stress, DNA damage, and tissue integrity, comparing natural water with laboratory solutions.
• The result: Findings show that environmental carbendazim disrupts redox balance and genetic stability, with damage more severe in complex environmental samples, highlighting the need to consider mixture effects in ecological risk assessments.