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Application of micronucleus test and comet assay to evaluate BTEX biodegradation
Dânia Elisa Christofoletti Mazzeo1, Silvia Tamie Matsumoto, Carlos Emílio Levy
1UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Av. 24-A, 1515, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. decm@rc.unesp.br
Chemosphere
|September 18, 2012
Summary
The BTEX mixture is mutagenic and genotoxic, posing risks to water resources. Biodegradation effectively reduces BTEX toxicity, making it a safe remediation strategy for contaminated sites.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Microbiology
Background:
- BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) is a significant water pollutant.
- Bioremediation using microorganisms is a common method for removing BTEX.
- Biological assays are crucial for assessing bioremediation efficiency and contaminant toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the genotoxic and mutagenic potential of BTEX mixtures.
- To assess the effects of BTEX before and after biodegradation.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of BTEX components.
Main Methods:
- Utilized rat hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells.
- Employed comet and micronucleus assays.
- Tested five different BTEX concentrations.
Main Results:
- Mutagenic effects observed at high BTEX concentrations.
- Significant genotoxicity found in non-biodegraded BTEX.
- Biodegraded BTEX showed no significant genotoxicity.
- Synergistic toxicity observed in the BTEX mixture.
Conclusions:
- BTEX is mutagenic near water solubility limits and genotoxic at lower concentrations.
- Biodegradation significantly reduces BTEX genotoxicity and mutagenicity.
- Microbial biodegradation is a safe and effective method for BTEX-contaminated sites.
