Genotoxicity analysis of two halonitromethanes, a novel group of disinfection by-products (DBPs), in human cells treated in vitro

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2008.12.009· OSTI ID:21176121

Liviac, Danae; Creus, Amadeu ^[1]; Marcos, Ricard ^[1]

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1. Grup de Mutagenesi, Departament de Genetica i de Microbiologia, Edifici Cn, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Valles (Spain)

Halonitromethanes (HNMs) constitute an emerging class of disinfection by-products (DBPs) produced when chlorine and/or ozone are used for water treatment. The HNMs are structurally similar to halomethanes, but have a nitro-group in place of hydrogen bonded to the central carbon atom. Since little information exists on the genotoxic potential of HNMs, a study has been carried out with two HNM compounds, namely trichloronitromethane (TCNM) and bromonitromethane (BNM) by using human cells. Primary damage induction has been measured with the Comet assay, which is used to determine both the repair kinetics of the induced damage and the proportion of induced oxidative damage. In addition, the fixed DNA damage has been evaluated by using the micronucleus (MN) assay. The results obtained indicate that both compounds are genotoxic, inducing high levels of DNA breaks in the Comet assay, and that this DNA damage repairs well over time. In addition, oxidized bases constitute a high proportion of DNA-induced damage (50-75%). Contrarily, no positive effects were observed in the frequency of micronucleus, which measures both clastogenic and aneugenic effects, neither using TK6 cells nor peripheral blood lymphocytes. This lack of fixed genetic damage would minimize the potential mutagenic risk associated with HNMs exposure.

• OSTI ID: 21176121
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 109; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
BY-PRODUCTS
CHLORINE
DBP
DISINFECTANTS
DNA
DNA DAMAGES
HEALTH HAZARDS
IN VITRO
LYMPHOCYTES
OXIDATION
OZONE
STERILIZATION
TOXICITY
WATER TREATMENT