Assessment of the genotoxicity of mine-dump material using the Tradescantia-stamen hair (Trad-SHM) and the Tradescantia-micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassays.
The Tradescantia-stamen hair (Trad-SHM) and -micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassays were used to determine the genotoxicity of two eluates derived from mine tailings. The goal was to test the suitability of the Tradescantia bioassays as screening tools for this kind of waste material. Leachates obtained using the current standard German leaching test methods (S4 eluate) as well as leachates obtained using a new eluation method (pHstat4) were tested and compared. Concentration of heavy metals in the pHstat4 eluate were much higher than in the S4 eluate. The chemical analysis corresponded well with the results of the bioassays. Exposure to solutions containing more than 1% pHstat4 eluate caused a significantly higher number of micronuclei. The Trad-SHM bioassay also showed an increased pink mutation rate when plants were exposed to 8 or 16% eluate solutions. In contrast, the S4 eluate only caused increased mutation rates when solutions containing more than 32% eluate were used. The low pH of the pHstat4 eluate was not responsible for the genotoxicity observed using both bioassays, as indicated by the lack of significant mutation rates in the nitric acid controls. This demonstrates that the Tradescantia bioassays can be used as tools to assess the genotoxic potential of environmental samples with a wide range of pH values, without the need for sample modification.
Fomin
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Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology, Department of Plant Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Hohenheim, Germany. fomin@uni-hohenheim.de
Paschke
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Arndt
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D001681:Biological Assay; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005858:Germany; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008906:Mining; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D014504:Urban Health
D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D009153:Mutagens