Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Quantification of three DNA Lesions by Mass Spectrometry and Assessment of Their Levels in Tissues of Mice Exposed to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter
Published on: May 29, 2019
[Study on the genetic damage in mice induced by the volatile organic compounds of decoration materials]
Xiao-yan Tao1, Shu-yuan Yu, Li Kang
1Shenzhen Institute of Health Inspection, Shenzhen 518020, China.
Objective:
To study genetic damage of mice caused by the volatile organic compounds (VOC) of decoration materials.
Methods:
Fifty-five hotel guest rooms newly decorated within 6 months and 18 hotel guest rooms not decorated within 3 years were selected to determine the concentrations of 6 main VOC (benzene, methylbenzene, dimethylbenzene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, formaldehyde) in the air. Mice were exposed to VOC with the concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 40 times respectively as high as those present in the newly decorated rooms in an exposure cabinet for 15 days. DNA damage of peripheral lymphocytes of the mice was determined by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and bone marrow micronucleus test.
Results:
The concentrations of benzene, methylbenzene, dimethylbenzene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and formaldehyde in the rooms newly decorated within 6 months (6.50, 3.00, 6.70, 41.33, 1.70 and 0.14 mg/m(3) respectively) were significantly higher than those in rooms not decorated within 3 years (0.08, 0.94, 1.38, 0.25, 0.25, 0.01 mg/m(3), P < 0.01). DNA damage rates of peripheral lymphocytes in the concentrations of 10, 20, 40 times of exposure groups were significantly higher than those in the control groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the frequencies of micronucleus in the mice exposed to 40 times of concentration was significantly higher than that in control group.
Conclusion:
High concentrations of the volatile organic chemical compounds may cause genetic damage in mice. SCGE test is more sensitive than micronucleus test.
