Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Measuring DNA Damage and Repair in Mouse Splenocytes After Chronic In Vivo Exposure to Very Low Doses of Beta- and Gamma-Radiation
Published on: July 3, 2015
Chromosomal damage induced by vanadium oxides in human peripheral lymphocytes
Juan J Rodríguez-Mercado1, Lucila Alvarez-Barrera, Mario A Altamirano-Lozano
1Unidad de Investigación en Genética y Toxicología Ambiental (UNIGEN), Laboratorio L5-PA, Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Investigación Experimental (UMIE-Z), Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Zaragoza, Campus II, UNAM, A.P. 9-020, C.P. 15000, México, D.F., México.
Vanadium oxides in fly ash can be toxic. This study found that vanadium(IV) tetraoxide, but not vanadium(III) or vanadium(V) oxides, caused genotoxic effects in human cells, demonstrating specific oxidation state toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Genetics
Background:
- Fly ash contains vanadium oxides, which have potential toxic effects.
- The specific oxidation state of vanadium responsible for genotoxicity is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro genotoxic effects of different vanadium oxidation states.
- To evaluate the clastogenic potential of vanadium(III), vanadium(IV), and vanadium(V) in human lymphocytes.
Main Methods:
- Human peripheral lymphocyte cultures were exposed to varying concentrations (1-8 microg/mL) of vanadium(III) trioxide (V(2)O(3)), vanadium(IV) tetraoxide (V(2)O(4)), and vanadium(V) pentoxide (V(2)O(5)).
- Cultures were analyzed for structural chromosomal aberrations and mitotic index (MI).
Main Results:
- All tested vanadium compounds (V(2)O(3), V(2)O(4), V(2)O(5)) decreased the mitotic index, indicating cytotoxicity.
- Only vanadium(IV) tetraoxide (V(2)O(4)) significantly increased chromosomal aberrations and induced clastogenic effects.
Conclusions:
- Vanadium(III), vanadium(IV), and vanadium(V) exhibit cytotoxicity.
- Vanadium in the oxidation state of +4 is specifically responsible for inducing genotoxic and clastogenic effects.
Related Concept Videos
Mutations
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Nucleotide Excision Repair
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle
In vitro Mutagenesis
