title: Comparative cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of particulate and soluble hexavalent chromium in human and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) skin cells.
abstract: Chromium (Cr) is a global marine pollutant, present in marine mammal tissues. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a known human carcinogen. In this study, we compare the cytotoxic and clastogenic effects of Cr(VI) in human (Homo sapiens) and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) skin fibroblasts. Our data show that increasing concentrations of both particulate and soluble Cr(VI) induce increasing amounts of cytotoxicity and clastogenicity in human and sperm whale skin cells. Furthermore, the data show that sperm whale cells are resistant to these effects exhibiting less cytotoxicity and genotoxicity than the human cells. Differences in Cr uptake accounted for some but not all of the differences in particulate and soluble Cr(VI) genotoxicity, although it did explain the differences in particulate Cr(VI) cytotoxicity. Altogether, the data indicate that Cr(VI) is a genotoxic threat to whales, but also suggest that whales have evolved cellular mechanisms to protect them against the genotoxicity of environmental agents such as Cr(VI).
authors.affiliation: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, 96 Falmouth St., Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li Chen
authors.forename: Carolyne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: LaCerte
authors.forename: Sandra S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: Amie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: John Pierce
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: W Douglas
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: John Pierce
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002840:Chromates / Q000633:toxicity*; D002857:Chromium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008677:Metaphase; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D012995:Solubility; D013045:Species Specificity; D014907:Whales / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002840:Chromates; D052638:Particulate Matter; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D007854:Lead; C028982:sodium chromate(VI); C031895:lead chromate