Frogs, sentinels of DNA damage induced by pollution in Naples and the neighbouring Provinces.
Many DNA mutation-based diseases recognised in Campania have recently been related to toxic substances in illegal dumping areas. We performed a comet assay on edible frog erythrocytes to evaluate DNA damage. Differences in genotoxic parameters were observed among populations. We show that severe DNA damage occurred in the north Campania where the emergence of environmental waste exploded recently. Although a similar magnitude of genotoxic damage was observed in some southern populations, it is attributable to a massive pesticide pollution related to intensive farming. The frog species analysed seems to be a good bioindicator for detecting genotoxic effects of chemical environmental hazards.
Maselli
Valeria
V
Department of Environmental Science, University of Naples 2 SUN, Via Vivaldi, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
Polese
Gianluca
G
Rippa
Daniela
D
Ligrone
Roberto
R
Kumar Rastogi
Rakesh
R
Fulgione
Domenico
D
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002947:Cities; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005843:Geography; D007558:Italy; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010575:Pesticides