title: The assessment of genotoxic effects of wastewater from a fertilizer factory.
abstract: In this study we investigated cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic effects of different concentrations of wastewater from the phosphoric gypsum depot near the factory for fertilizing agents 'INA Petrokemija' (Kutina, Croatia). The Ames test was performed on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains, in the presence of S9 mix, glutathione and buffer, respectively. Cytotoxicity was studied on human laryngeal carcinoma cells (HEp2) and human cervical cells (HeLa). The level of lipid peroxidation in these two cell lines was evaluated in parallel. To establish the levels of primary DNA damage, the alkaline comet assay was performed on treated human peripheral blood leukocytes. No mutagenic effects of phosphoric gypsum on Salmonella typhimurium strains in the presence of S9 mix, GSH or PBS were observed. However, strong cytotoxic effect was observed on both human cell lines when they were treated with different concentrations of wastewater. Lipid peroxidation was induced and increased by prolonged time of incubation, highlighting that the damage was not repaired, but increased with the time of incubation. The results of the alkaline comet assay indicate significant DNA damaging potential of wastewater for human leukocytes. Since phosphoric gypsum transport water in its present composition and acidity is highly toxic and acts as prooxidant, causing free radicals formation and DNA damage, urgent neutralization/purification of the wastewater to a level acceptable for disposal into the environment is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. kdurgo@pbf.hr
authors.forename: Ksenija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Durgo
authors.forename: Visnja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Orescanin
authors.forename: Stipe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lulić
authors.forename: Nevenka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kopjar
authors.forename: Davor Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Eljezić
authors.forename: Jasna Franekić
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Colić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005308:Fertilizers; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009153:Mutagens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000091243:Ribosomal Protein S9; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D007220:Industrial Waste; D009153:Mutagens; D000091243:Ribosomal Protein S9; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical