title: Cytogenetic status of human lymphocytes after exposure to low concentrations of p,p'-DDT, and its metabolites (p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDD) in vitro.
abstract: Despite that the use of DDT has been restricted for more than 40 years to malaria affected areas, low doses of this pesticide and its metabolites DDE and DDD can be found in the environment around the world. Although it has been shown that these pollutants induce cell and DNA damage, the mechanisms of their cytogenotoxic activity remains largely unknown. This study looks into their possible genotoxic effects, at doses that can be found in body fluids, on human lymphocytes using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay and the comet assay. After exposure for 1, 6, and 24 h compounds p,p'-DDT (0.1 μg mL(-1)), p,p'-DDE (4.1 μg mL(-1)), and p,p'-DDD (3.9 μg mL(-1)) showed increase in DNA damage. The most significant results were observed at exposure period of 24 h where number of micronucleated cells increased from control 2.5±0.71 to 23.5±3.54, 13.5±0.71, and 16.5±6.36 for DDT, DDE, and DDD, respectively. Similar effect was observed using comet test where the percentage of DNA in comets tail increased from control 1.81±0.16 to 17.24±0.55, 11.21±0.56 and 9.28±0.50 for each compound, respectively. At the same time Fpg-comet assay failed to report induction of oxidative DNA damage of these pollutants. Additionally, the type of cell death was determined using diffusion assay and necrosis dominated. Our findings suggest that even at low concentrations, these pesticides could induce cytogenetic damage to human peripheral blood lymphocytes and in that manner have the impact on human health as well.
authors.affiliation: Mutagenesis Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerić
authors.forename: Nikolina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ceraj-Cerić
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gajski
authors.forename: Želimira
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Vasilić
authors.forename: Željka
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Capuder
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garaj-Vrhovac
mesh_terms: D020552:Comet Assay; D003634:DDT / Q000633:toxicity*; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects*; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity*; D003632:Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D004247:DNA; D003634:DDT; D003632:Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane