Evaluation of mutagenic activities of leachates in landfill sites by micronucleus test and comet assay using goldfish.
To develop a simple system for monitoring the presence of mutagens/carcinogens in the leachates from landfill sites, we used a micronucleus test and a single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay originally developed for mice and rats on goldfish (Carassius auratus). The goldfish were exposed for 9 days to the leachate with chemical and biological treatment (treated leachate) or without treatment (raw leachate). The goldfish exposed to several samples died because of the high concentrations of NaCl or ammonium ion (NH4+). In the comet assay using peripheral erythrocytes, the raw leachates showed higher mutagenic activity than the treated leachates. In the micronucleus test, it was difficult to detect the micronuclei in peripheral erythrocytes. On the other hand, the frequency of micronuclei was high in gill cells of goldfish exposed to the raw leachates compared to the treated leachates. A combination of the two bioassays was shown to be useful to evaluate the mutagenic activity of the leachates. We also propose a new scoring method for determination of water quality by using acute toxicity and mutagenic activity.
Deguchi
Yuya
Y
Graduate School of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences and COE Program in the 21st Century, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan. yuya@cocoa.plala.or.jp
Toyoizumi
Tomoyasu
T
Masuda
Shuichi
S
Yasuhara
Akio
A
Mohri
Shino
S
Yamada
Masato
M
Inoue
Yuzo
Y
Kinae
Naohide
N
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D020552:Comet Assay; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006054:Goldfish / Q000235:genetics*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical