Genotoxicity of industrial solid waste leachates in Drosophila melanogaster.
The potential toxicity of industrial solid wastes is a major environmental concern. The present study evaluated the genotoxicity of industrial waste leachates on the gut cells of Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R+), using a modified alkaline comet assay. Leachates were prepared from control soil and solid wastes generated by a flashlight battery factory, a pigment plant, and a tannery, using different pHs (7.0, 4.93, and 2.88). Newly emerged first instar Drosophila larvae (22 +/- 2 hr) were transferred to standard Drosophila diet containing 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% of the leachates, and allowed to grow. At 96 +/- 2 hr, the anterior midgut of control and treated larvae was dissected out; single cell suspensions were prepared; and the comet assay was performed on the cells. All the leachates produced significant (P < 0.05), dose-dependent increases in DNA damage, in the gut cells. Leachates prepared at pH 7.0 were significantly less genotoxic than leachates prepared at pH 4.93 or 2.88. A comparison of the comet parameters among the exposed groups indicated that leachates of the pigment plant solid waste produced the least DNA damage, while leachates prepared from the flashlight battery factory solid waste were the most genotoxic. The present study indicates that leachates of solid wastes from flashlight battery factories, pigment plants, and tanneries possess genotoxic activity and that D. melanogaster is a useful in vivo model for assessing the genotoxicity of these potential environmental contaminants.
Siddique
Hifzur R
HR
Embryotoxicology Section, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Gupta
Subash C
SC
Dhawan
Alok
A
Murthy
R C
RC
Saxena
D K
DK
Chowdhuri
D Kar
DK
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007221:Industry; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D009153:Mutagens; D012037:Refuse Disposal
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008670:Metals; D009153:Mutagens; D004996:Ethidium