Study on genotoxicity of organic pollutants in the Zhuozhang River

OBJECTIVE:The genotoxicity on human peripheral lymphocytes by organic pollutants in the Zhuozhang River was investigated. METHODS:The comet assay was conducted to detect DNA damage induced by the organic extracts of three typical sample sites. RESULTS:Within certain concentrations,the DNA damage in human peripheral lymphocytes was induced by the substances tested and increased with the dose of the organic extracts. Compared with the negative control group,there were significant differences(P0.01). The differences of DNA damage were also shown in different samples by multiplex comparison at the dose of 100 ml/tube,with decreasing activity as follows,BaomaHuangnianShiliang. CONCLUSION:The organic pollutants in Zhuozhang River caused DNA damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. This study also demonstrated that comet assay could be successfully applied to the genotoxicity monitoring of water organic extracts.