title: Municipal sludge leachate-induced genotoxicity in mice--a subacute study.
abstract: Inappropriate disposal of municipal sludge (MS) results in the leaching of toxic metals and organic chemicals, which can contaminate the surface and ground water leading to the serious health hazards. In this study, the genotoxic potential of the leachate prepared from MS sample was examined in mouse bone marrow cells through chromosomal aberrations (CA), micronucleus test (MT) and comet assay. Analysis of metals and physicochemical parameters of the leachate was also carried out to correlate the genotoxic results. The dried sludge showed high concentrations of heavy metals, viz. Cr, Cu, Pb and Ni. However, in 10% leachate, concentrations of these metals were manifold lower than that of obtained in dried sludge. Male mice orally gavaged to leachates (0.1-0.4 ml/mouse/day) for 15 days revealed significant (P<0.01, P<0.001) inhibition of mitotic index (MI) and induction of chromatid/chromosome fragments and breaks in all the treatment groups. The effect was observed to be dose-dependent. Treatment of mice with leachates also induced significant (P<0.001) frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE). The results of comet assay revealed a statistically significant (P<0.05 and <0.01) DNA damage in bone marrow cells exposed to 0.2-0.4 ml/mouse/day. Findings of the present study indicate that the constant exposure of MS leachate can cause genotoxic effects in mammals and suggest risks in human population.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology Section, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, P.O. Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226 001, India.
authors.forename: Anamika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tewari
authors.forename: L K S
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D012995:Solubility; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants