title: Genotoxicity in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) along a pollution gradient: exposure-, age-, and gender-related effects.
abstract: We investigated the effects of environmental pollution on genetic damage in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) by means of the comet assay, with special attention to the role of age and gender as potential confounding variables. The present study was carried out at four sites along a pollution gradient in the vicinity of Antwerp (Belgium), with a nonferrous smelter as the main pollution source. We measured the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) in mouse liver and kidney and the concentration of organochlorine compounds (polychlorinated biphenyls and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene) in mouse muscle tissue to assess individual exposure. Cadmium exposure was very high at the sites closest to the smelter, and exposure to this metal decreased with increasing distance from the smelter. Exposure to the other pollutants was low to moderate at the different sites. Genetic damage was higher in mice from populations in the vicinity of the nonferrous smelter compared with that in the control populations. A significant increase in genetic damage with age was observed at the most polluted sites, but not at the control sites. Genetic damage was higher in male mice than in female mice at the most polluted site, but not at the other areas. Yet, no obvious relationship was found between individual pollutant levels and individual genetic damage levels. We conclude that the comet assay can be used to compare genotoxicity at the population level if the confounding variables of gender and age are taken into account. However, its use for individual health risk assessment remains questionable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Evolutionary Biology Group, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium. jan.scheirs@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scheirs
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Coen
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beernaert
authors.forename: Valentine Mubiana
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Kayawe
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caturla
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Wolf
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baert
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Oostveldt
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verhagen
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blust
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Coen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D051189:Murinae; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D019216:Metals, Heavy