title: Mutagenic properties of linuron and chlorbromuron evaluated by means of cytogenetic biomarkers in mammalian cell lines.
abstract: Agricultural practices are usually supported by several chemical substances, such as herbicides. Linuron and chlorbromuron are phenylurea herbicides largely used to protect crops from weeds, blocking photosynthesis by inhibition of the photosystem II complex. The former, also commercially known as lorox or afalon, is selectively used to protect bean and French bean plants, fennels, and celeriacs; the second, commercially known as maloran, is selectively used for carrots, peas, potatoes, soy sprouts, and sunflowers. Considering the widespread use of herbicides and, more generally, pesticides, it is important to clarify their involvement on human health, one of them concerning the possible direct or indirect effect on the genome of exposed populations. Here, we show that these herbicides are endowed by mutagenic properties, as demonstrated by an increased number of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in two exposed Chinese hamster cell lines derived from ovary and epithelial liver, respectively. This was also confirmed by sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus (MN) assays. Our present and previously obtained data clearly indicate that phenylurea herbicides must be used with great caution, especially for agricultural workers who use large amounts of herbicides during their work, and particular attention should be given to residues of these herbicides and their involvement in environmental pollution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pappalardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Venera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferrito
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pappalardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Librando
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. saccosal@unict.it.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saccone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005260:Female; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008044:Linuron / Q000633:toxicity*; D008782:Methylurea Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006540:Herbicides; D008782:Methylurea Compounds; D009153:Mutagens; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D008044:Linuron; C014401:chlorbromuron
keywords: Chinese hamster cell lines; Chromosome aberration; Lorox; Maloran; Micronuclei; Phenylurea herbicides; Sister chromatid exchanges