title: Genotoxicity of drinking water disinfection by-products (bromoform and chloroform) by using both Allium anaphase-telophase and comet tests.
abstract: Genotoxic effects of bromoform and chloroform, disinfection by-products of the chlorination of drinking water, were examined by using mitotic index (MI), mitotic phase, chromosome aberrations (CAs) and comet assay on root meristematic cells of Allium cepa. Different concentrations of bromoform (25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/mL) and chloroform (25, 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL) were introduced to onion tuber roots. Distilled water was used as a negative control and methyl methansulfonate (MMS-10 μg/mL) as positive control. All obtained data were subjected to statistical analyses by using SPSS 15.0 for Windows software. For comparison purposes, Duncan multiple range tests by using one-way analysis of variance were employed and p < 0.05 was accepted as significant value. Exposure of both chemicals (except 25 μg/mL applications of bromoform) significantly decreased MI. Bromoform and chloroform (except 25 μg/mL applications) increased total CAs in Allium anaphase-telophase test. A significant increase in DNA damage was also observed at all concentrations of both bromoform and chloroform examined by comet assay. The damages were higher than that of positive control especially at 75-100 μg/mL for bromoform and 100-200 μg/mL for chloroform.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, 23000, Annaba, Algeria.
authors.forename: Messaouda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khallef
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liman
authors.forename: Muhsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konuk
authors.forename: İbrahim Hakkı
authors.initials: İH
authors.lastname: Ciğerci
authors.forename: Djameleddine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benouareth
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabet
authors.forename: Ahlem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abda