title: Hexavalent chromium is cytotoxic and genotoxic to hawksbill sea turtle cells.
abstract: Sea turtles are a charismatic and ancient ocean species and can serve as key indicators for ocean ecosystems, including coral reefs and sea grass beds as well as coastal beaches. Genotoxicity studies in the species are absent, limiting our understanding of the impact of environmental toxicants on sea turtles. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a ubiquitous environmental problem worldwide, and recent studies show it is a global marine pollutant of concern. Thus, we evaluated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of soluble and particulate Cr(VI) in hawksbill sea turtle cells. Particulate Cr(VI) was both cytotoxic and genotoxic to sea turtle cells. Concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5μg/cm(2) lead chromate induced 108, 79, 54, and 7% relative survival, respectively. Additionally, concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5μg/cm(2) lead chromate induced damage in 4, 10, 15, 26, and 36% of cells and caused 4, 11, 17, 30, and 56 chromosome aberrations in 100 metaphases, respectively. For soluble Cr, concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5μM sodium chromate induced 84, 69, 46, 25, and 3% relative survival, respectively. Sodium chromate induced 3, 9, 9, 14, 21, and 29% of metaphases with damage, and caused 3, 10, 10, 16, 26, and 39 damaged chromosomes in 100 metaphases at concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5μM sodium chromate, respectively. These data suggest that Cr(VI) may be a concern for hawksbill sea turtles and sea turtles in general.
authors: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA; Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA; Department of Applied Medical Science, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA. Electronic address: sandra.wise@maine.edu.
authors: Sandra S
authors: SS
authors: Wise
authors: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA; Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA; Department of Applied Medical Science, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA. Electronic address: hongxie@usm.maine.edu.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Xie
authors: Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tohoku University, Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Second Research Building, Rm 112, 1-1 Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan. Electronic address: tomofukuda009@gmail.com.
authors: Tomokazu
authors: T
authors: Fukuda
authors: Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA; Department of Applied Medical Science, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA. Electronic address: dougt@usm.maine.edu.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Douglas Thompson
authors: Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA; Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA; Department of Applied Medical Science, University of Southern Maine, Science Building, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04103, USA. Electronic address: john.wise@usm.maine.edu.
authors: John Pierce
authors: JP
authors: Wise
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002840:Chromates / Q000633:toxicity*; D002857:Chromium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008677:Metaphase / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D012995:Solubility; D014426:Turtles / Q000235:genetics*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002840:Chromates; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D007854:Lead; C028982:sodium chromate(VI); C031895:lead chromate
keywords: Chromate; Chromium; Genotoxicity; Hawksbill sea turtle; Hexavalent chromium