DNA Damage Caused By Pesticide-contaminated Soil

Objective To determine the DNA damaging potential and the genotoxicity of individual compounds in pesticide contaminated soil. Methods In the present study, DNA damaging potential of pesticide-contaminated soil and the genotoxicity of individual compounds present in the soil were assessed using fluofimetdc analysis of DNA unwinding assay. Results The contaminated soil sample showed 79% （P〈0.001） of DNA strand break, whereas technical grade of major catbaryl and α-naphthol constituents of the contaminated soil showed 64% （P〈0.01） and 60% （P〈0.02） damage respectively. Conclusion Our results indicate that the toxicity caused by contaminated soil is mainly due to carbatyl and α -napthol, which are the major constituents of the soil sample analyzed by CrC-MS.

Effects of Heavy Metal Ions (Cu^(2+), Pb^(2+) and Cd^(2+)) on DNA Damage of the Gills, Hemocytes and Hepatopancreas of Marine Crab, Charybdis japonica

There are rising concerns about the hazardous effects of heavy metals on the environment. In this study, comet assay and DNA alkaline unwinding assay were conducted on the tissues (gills, hepatopancreas, and hemocytes) of Charybdis japonica in order to illustrate genotoxicity of three heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+) on the marine crabs C. japonica. The crabs were exposed to Cu2+ (10, 50, and 100 ?g.L?1), Pb2+ (50, 250, and 500 ?g L?1) and Cd2+ (5, 25, and 50 ?g L?1), and the tissues were sampled at days 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 15. DNA alkaline unwinding assay was used for testing the DNA single strand break in gills and hepatopancreas and comet assay was employed for testing the DNA damage in hemocytes. The results showed that the DNA damage (F-value) of gills in the crabs exposed to the three heavy metals was decreased gradually during the exposure periods and there was a dose-time response relationship in certain time, suggesting that the levels of DNA single strand break in all the experimental groups increased significantly compared to the controls. Changes of F-value in hepatopancreas of the crabs exposed to the three heavy metals were similar to those in gills except that the peak values were found in the 500 ?g L?1 Pb2+ treatment group at day 3 and the 50 ?g L?1 Cd2+ treatment group at day 9. The ranks of DNA damage in gills and hepatopancreas induced by the three heavy metal ions (50 ?g L?1, day 15) were Cd2+ >Pb2+ >Cu2+ and Pb2+ >Cu2+ >Cd2+. The levels of DNA damage in gills were higher than those in hepatopancreas in the same experimental group. It can be concluded that indices of DNA damage can be used as the potential biomarkers of heavy metal pollution in marine environment.

Genotoxicity of Pesticide Waste Contaminated Soil and Its Leachate

Objective Improper land disposal of hazardous waste can result in leaching of hazardous constituents which may contaminate ground and surface water leading to adverse impact on human health and environment consequences. The present study utilized mammalian cell culture for the genotoxicity assessment of waste and its leachate. Methods Genotoxic potential and chemical analysis of pesticide derived tarry waste contaminated soil extract and its leachate was assessed using in vitro human lymphocyte cultures and GC-MS. Results The investigation revealed that the soil extract could cause significant to highly significant genotoxicity in the form of DNA strand break at 25 mL (P<0.01), 50 mL, 100 mL and 200 mL (P<0.001) and chromosomal aberration at 25 mL (P<0.01) and 50 mL and 100 mL (P<0.001). The leachate could cause significant DNA strand break and chromosomal aberration only at 100 mL and 200 mL (P<0.01) dose levels. Conclusion The genotoxicity observed is attributed to carbaril and tetra methyl naphthyl carbamate, the major ingredients of the extracts, as revealed by GC-MS.