DNA damage caused by pesticide-contaminated soil.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the DNA damaging potential and the genotoxicity of individual compounds in pesticide contaminated soil.


METHODS
In the present study, DNA damaging potential of pesticide-contaminated soil and the genotoxicity of individual compounds present in the soil were assessed using fluorimetric analysis of DNA unwinding assay.


RESULTS
The contaminated soil sample showed 79% (P < 0.001) of DNA strand break, whereas technical grade of major carbaryl and alpha-naphthol constituents of the contaminated soil showed 64% (P < 0.01) and 60% (P < 0.02) damage respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the toxicity caused by contaminated soil is mainly due to carbaryl and alpha-napthol, which are the major constituents of the soil sample analyzed by GC-MS.
Krishnamurthi
K
K
Environmental Biotechnology Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur-440020, India. twmneeri@nagpur.dot.net.in
Saravana Devi
S
S
Chakrabarti
T
T
D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D005470:Fluorometry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
D010575:Pesticides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D004247:DNA