Journal of Environmental Indicators: 6:33-40, 2011 www.environmentalindicators.net 33 The Karyotype Instability of Wild Organisms Could Serve as a General Sign of Adverse Environmental Impact EUGENE V. DAEV 1 AND ANNA V. DUKELSKAYA 1 1 Animal Genetics Lab., Department of Genetics & Breeding, Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, RUSSIA, 199034 The current paper demonstrates by cytogenetic analysis of dividing Asellus aquaticus cells at the ana-telophase stage that the degree of mitotic disturbances, including chromosome structural aberrations and distorted chromosome segregation frequencies, corresponds to the degree of anthropogenic pollution of fresh water lakes, ponds and other sources. Several locations in the Saint-Petersburg region and its suburbs were investigated. While the spontaneous frequency of mitotic disturbances in “clean” water locations varied slightly, around 2%, polluted locations showed corresponding levels 5-10 times greater. The possibility and practicality of using mitotic aberrations in different species as a universal indicator of water and soil quality is discussed. Key words: cytogenetic monitoring, aquatic ecosystems, crustacean, Isopoda INTRODUCTION Each highly developed industrial society sooner or later encounters issues related to its impact on ecological resources. Anthropogenic pressure can disturb ecosystem homeostasis and human pressure is resulting in drastic changes in environmental quality, some of which can threaten human health. Therefore, there is a need for constant monitoring of the quality of water, soil and air. Normally such monitoring programs focus on the measurement of concentrations of different pollutants based on physicochemical techniques (Kaminski, 1975; Haus et al., 2007). But often many chemical, physical, social and other factors interact and create dangerous stressor combinations for specific local ecosystems. Separately, any one chemical may not be hazardous, but in combination, they can influence environmental quality and human health. Routinely, the use of ecological and biological methods allows assessment of biodiversity and the impacts of toxic pollutants. However, these effects’ measurements tend to be instantaneous and often not be capable to assess long ranging future consequences. But by the time such ecological changes are identified it is often too late or too expensive to carry out remedial actions. There is therefore a need for universal tools to permit widespread current and permanent monitoring of the environmental state to forecast possible future sweeping changes to local ecosystems. These sensitive and standardized methods must indicate preliminary signs of environmental stress resulting from the actions of single stressors as well as those due to complex interactions of multiple stressors. Such indicators must also be rapid, cost effective, and adaptable for any evaluating territory or authority. Address correspondence to: Eugene V. Daev, Animal Genetics Lab., Department of Genetics & Breeding, Saint- Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, RUSSIA, 199034 edaev@hotmail.com