Evaluation of DNA damage in the root cells of Allium cepa seeds growing in soil of high background radiation areas of Ramsar – Iran

Plants are unique in their ability to serve as in situ monitors for environmental genotoxins. We have used the alkaline comet assay for detecting induced DNA damage in Allium cepa to estimate the impact of high levels of natural radiation in the soils of inhabited zones of Ramsar. The average specific activity of natural radionuclides measured in the soil samples for ²²⁶Ra was 12,766 Bq kg⁻¹ whereas in the control soils was in the range of 34–60 Bq kg⁻¹. A positive strong significant correlation of the DNA damage in nuclei of the root cells of A. cepa seeds germinated in the soil of high background radiation areas with ²²⁶Ra specific activity of the soil samples was observed. The results showed high genotoxicity of radioactively contaminated soils. Also the linear increase in the DNA damage indicates that activation of repair enzymes is not triggered by exposure to radiation in HBRA.     

典型生活污水处理工艺对雌激素效应的去除

针对水环境中内分泌干扰物低浓度、高风险的特点,采用酵母菌法和酶联免疫法对3个污水处理工艺流程中污水的雌激素活性和雌二醇(E2)水平进行评价.结果表明,污水厂进水的雌二醇当量(EEQ)和E2的水平分别为4.35~7.58 ng·L~(-1)和36.95~83.43 ng·L~(-1).雌激素活性和E2的去除主要发生在生物处理阶段,如氧化沟、A~2/O和A~2/O+MBR工艺,且经以上工艺处理之后,雌激素活性和E2分别降低71.10%~75.54%和75.88%~80.72%.污泥对雌激素效应具有一定的去除作用,通过吸附作用污泥的EEQ和E2的含量分别为1.84~2.43 ng·g~(-1)和8.45~12.84 ng·g~(-1).但污水厂出水仍具有较高的雌激素活性,其EEQ为1.06~2.19 ng·L~(-1),对受纳水体的水生生物具有潜在的危害.酶联免疫法与酵母菌法具有很好的一致性,并为水环境雌激素的快速筛选和评价提供了一个新方法.     

蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa)微板毒性分析方法优化

以蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa,CP)为指示生物,96孔微板为暴露载体,污染物对藻的72 h生长抑制率为毒性指标,通过系统地检测蛋白核小球藻的生长曲线和吸收光谱,确定藻细胞密度和683 nm波长处光密度(D₆₈₃)之间的线性关系,考察不同初始藻密度、照度、暴露时间和暴露体积对藻生长的影响,建立了蛋白核小球藻微板毒性分析方法(CP-MTA法).将CP-MTA法应用于重金属盐、除草剂、杀虫剂以及离子液体等8种化学品对蛋白核小球藻的生长抑制毒性测试,以pEC₅₀为毒性指标,毒性大小顺序为敌草快>CuSO₄·5H₂O≈CdCl₂·2.5H₂O>氯化1-甲基-3-辛基咪唑(［Omim］Cl)>草甘膦>氯化1-甲基-3-丁基咪唑(［Bmim］Cl)>敌敌畏>乐果,与文献结果一致.CP-MTA法由于以微板为反应载体,所需样品少,便于多次平行,数据重复性好.      

In vivo genotoxicity assessment of titanium,zirconium and aluminium nanoparticles,and their microparticulated forms,in Drosophila

As in vivo system, we propose Drosophila melanogaster as a useful model for study the genotoxic risks associated with nanoparticle exposure. In this study we have carried out a genotoxic evaluation of titanium dioxide (TiO₂), zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) and aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles and their microparticulated forms in D. melanogaster by using the wing somatic mutation and recombination assay. This assay is based on the principle that loss of heterozygosis and the corresponding expression of the suitable recessive markers, multiple wing hairs and flare-3, can lead to the formation of mutant clones in treated larvae, which are expressed as mutant spots on the wings of adult flies. Third instar larvae were feed with TiO₂, ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles, and their microparticulated forms, at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 mM. Although a certain level of aggregation/agglomeration was observed in solution, it must be noted than the constant digging activity of larvae ensures that treated medium pass constantly through the digestive tract ensuring exposure. The results showed that no significant increases in the frequency of all spots (e.g. small single, large single, twin, total mwh and total spots) were observed, indicating that these nanoparticles were not able to induce genotoxic activity in the wing spot assay of D. melanogaster. Negative data were also obtained with the microparticulated forms. This indicates that the nanoparticulated form of the selected nanomaterials does not modify the potential genotoxicity of their microparticulated versions. These in vivo results contribute to increase the genotoxicity database on the TiO₂, ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles.     

硝基甲苯对小鼠睾丸生殖细胞DNA的损伤作用

为提供硝基甲苯的环境遗传毒理学依据和建立鱼类生殖细胞的培养方法,采用昆明小鼠睾丸支持细胞/生殖细胞共培养法以及彗星实验,研究了2,4-二硝基甲苯(2,4-DNT)、2,6-二硝基甲苯(2,6-DNT)、对硝基甲苯(4-NT)对小鼠睾丸生殖细胞DNA的损伤作用.结果表明,3种受试硝基甲苯化合物均能够诱导小鼠睾丸生殖细胞DNA单链断裂,而且其受损率与剂量对数具有明显的剂量-效应关系.2,4-DNT、2,6-DNT以及4-NT的各个剂量浓度引起细胞DNA损伤的程度,与对照组相比,均具有显着性差异(p<0.01,p<0.05).受试化合物的毒性顺序为2,6-DNT>2,4-DNT>4-NT,DNA的损伤作用二硝基甲苯大于单硝基甲苯.提示在体外条件下,2,4-DNT、2,6-DNT和4-NT具有生殖毒性,可以引起小鼠睾丸生殖细胞DNA损伤.     

A protocol for the evaluation of genotoxicity in bile of carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to lake water treated with different disinfectants

A sensitive and rapid method to evaluate toxic and genotoxic properties of drinking water supplied from Lake Trasimeno (Umbria, Central Italy) was worked out analysing bile in Cyprinus carpio exposed for 20 d to lake water treated with 3 different disinfectants, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) and peracetic acid (PAA). Fish were sacrificed at 0, 10 and 20 d in order to investigate the time course of these endpoints. An aliquot of bile samples was fractionated by adsorption on C₁₈ silica cartridges and the genotoxic potential of whole bile and of bile fractions was evaluated by the single-cell microgel-electrophoresis (comet) assay on human colonic adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2). Bile (both whole and fractionated) from specimens exposed to the three disinfectants always showed a genotoxic activity as compared to the control group. The results of this study provide evidence that all three disinfectants cause an increase in bile genotoxicity of chronically exposed fish.     

Assessing the genotoxicity of urban air pollutants using two in situ plant bioassays

Genotoxicity of urban air has been analysed almost exclusively in airborne particulates. We monitored the genotoxic effects of airborne pollutants in the urban air of Perugia (Central Italy). Two plant bioindicators with different genetic endpoints were used: micronuclei in meiotic pollen mother cells using Tradescantia-micronucleus bioassay (Trad-MCN) and DNA damage in nuclei of Nicotiana tabacum leaves using comet assay (Nicotiana-comet). Buds of Tradescantia clone # 4430 and young N. tabacum cv. Xanthi plants were exposed for 24 h at three sites with different pollution levels. One control site (indoor control) was also used. The two bioassays showed different sensitivities toward urban pollutants: Trad-MCN assay was the most sensitive, but DNA damage in N. tabacum showed a better correlation with the pollutant concentrations. In situ biomonitoring of airborne genotoxins using higher plants combined with chemical analysis is thus recommended for characterizing genotoxicity of urban air.     

Aerosols near by a coal fired thermal power plant: Chemical composition and toxic evaluation

Industrial processes discharge fine particulates containing organic as well as inorganic compounds into the atmosphere which are known to induce damage to cell and DNA, both in vitro and in vivo. Source and area specific studies with respect to the chemical composition, size and shape of the particles, and toxicity evaluations are very much limited. This study aims to investigate the trace elements associated with the aerosol particles distributed near to a coal burning thermal power plant and to evaluate their toxicity through Comet assay. PM₁₀ (particles determined by mass passing an inlet with a 50% cut-off efficiency having a 10-μm aerodynamic diameter) samples were collected using respirable dust samplers. Twelve elements (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Se, Hg, and As) were analyzed using ICP-AES. Comet assay was done with the extracts of aerosols in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Results show that Fe and Zn were found to be the predominant elements along with traces of other analyzed elements. Spherical shaped ultrafine particles of <1 μm aerodynamic diameter were detected through scanning electron microscope. PM₁₀ particles near to the coal burning power plant produced comets indicating their potential to induce DNA damage. DNA damage property is found to be depending upon the chemical characteristics of the components associated with the particles besides the physical properties such as size and shape.     

TBT染毒导致的大鼠脂质过氧化与DNA损伤

采用连续灌胃的方式对SD大鼠进行三丁基锡(TBT)染毒,剂量为0、0.1、1.0、和10.0 mg·kg-1,分别在暴露的第4d、8d处死动物,取肝脏检测丙二醛(MDA)含量,取外周血检测淋巴细胞DNA损伤.结果表明,TBT暴露第4d时,淋巴细胞尾长和尾相显著升高(p＜0.001),而各浓度组的MDA含量与对照组相比都没有显著性差异;第8d时MDA含量随TBT暴露浓度的升高呈上升的趋势,高浓度组(10.0 mg·kg-1)和对照组相比有显著性差异(p＜0.05),淋巴细胞尾长和尾相在各浓度组与对照组相比都有显著性升高,但高浓度组升高的趋势稍下降.研究结果提示TBT染毒对大鼠有脂质过氧化和DNA损伤作用.