Genotoxicity of water from the Songhua River, China, in 1994-1995 and 2002-2003: Potential risks for human health.
A previous study showed that the cancer mortalities are higher for residents who lived nearby the Songhua River heavily polluted by organic contamination. It is important to determine its risk of carcinogenic potential. Short-term genotoxic bio-assays using Salmonella, Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE), and Micronuclei (MN) assays were employed to examine the genotoxic activity of ether extracts of water samples taken from the Songhua River. The results of the Salmonella bioassay indicated that there were indirect frame-shift mutagens in the water samples. A dose-response relationship for the SCE and MN assays was obtained. These results showed that organic extracts of water samples have genotoxic activity and the risk of carcinogenic potential to human health. The mutagenesis of water samples had changed compared to the results in 1994-1995. An increasing trend of risk of carcinogenic potential in the Songhua River after ten years should be noted and needs to be studied further.
Liu
Jia-Ren
JR
Department of Environmental Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, 157 BaoJian Road, NanGang District, Harbin, P.R. China 150081. jiarenliu@yahoo.com
Dong
Hong-Wei
HW
Tang
Xuan-Le
XL
Sun
Xiang-Rong
XR
Han
Xiao-Hui
XH
Chen
Bing-Qing
BQ
Sun
Chang-Hao
CH
Yang
Bao-Feng
BF
D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D002681:China; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012621:Seasons; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D009153:Mutagens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical