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Genotoxicity biomonitoring in coal regions using wild rodent Ctenomys torquatus by Comet assay and micronucleus test
Author(s) -
da Silva Juliana,
de Freitas Thales R. O.,
Heuser Vanina,
Marinho Jorge R.,
Erdtmann Bernardo
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2280(2000)35:4<270::aid-em2>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - genotoxicity , micronucleus test , biomonitoring , comet assay , micronucleus , biology , toxicology , environmental chemistry , chemistry , genetics , dna damage , toxicity , dna , organic chemistry
Abstract Coal is a mixture of a variety of chemicals, especially hydrocarbons, which may give rise to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Many PAH compounds produce mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. The quality of mineral coal in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is low and it is typically obtained by stripping operations; it represents approximately 87% of the Brazil reserves. This report concerns the application of the Comet assay to Ctenomys torquatus to detect the effects of coal, comparing the results with a micronucleus (MN) assay, both using peripheral blood. This study was performed over a 2‐year period in an attempt to evaluate seasonal patterns. The wild rodent is fossorial, and its geographic distribution in RS coincides with the distribution of coal reserves. Three localitions were studied: two coal fields, Butiá (in a strip coal mine region) and Candiota (near a strip coal mine), and one control region, Pelotas (no coal). At the end of 2 years, 240 rodents had been analyzed. Our results showed that coal and derivatives induced DNA and chromosomal lesions in rodent cells that were demonstrated by Comet and MN assays. These tests also demonstrated quantitative differences between field exposures (Candiota > Butiá). The Comet assay was more sensitive and also showed a direct relationship between age and damage, and an inverse relationship between temperature and damage index. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 35:270–278, 2000 © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.