Comparison of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of plutonium-239 alpha particles and mobile phone GSM 900 radiation in the Allium cepa test.

The goal of this study was to compare the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of plutonium-239 alpha particles and GSM 900 modulated mobile phone (model Sony Ericsson K550i) radiation in the Allium cepa test. Three groups of bulbs were exposed to mobile phone radiation during 0 (sham), 3 and 9h. A positive control group was treated during 20min with plutonium-239 alpha-radiation. Mitotic abnormalities, chromosome aberrations, micronuclei and mitotic index were analyzed. Exposure to alpha-radiation from plutonium-239 and exposure to modulated radiation from mobile phone during 3 and 9h significantly increased the mitotic index. GSM 900 mobile phone radiation as well as alpha-radiation from plutonium-239 induced both clastogenic and aneugenic effects. However, the aneugenic activity of mobile phone radiation was more pronounced. After 9h of exposure to mobile phone radiation, polyploid cells, three-groups metaphases, amitoses and some unspecified abnormalities were detected, which were not registered in the other experimental groups. Importantly, GSM 900 mobile phone radiation increased the mitotic index, the frequency of mitotic and chromosome abnormalities, and the micronucleus frequency in a time-dependent manner. Due to its sensitivity, the A. cepa test can be recommended as a useful cytogenetic assay to assess cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

Allium test genotoxicity data on water from river valley of Irtysh, West Siberia.

Assessment of genotoxicity of aquatic ecosystems is of great importance for environmental management and assessment of water ecological quality as well as health safety. Data on the genotoxicity of water in rivers of such a large region as Siberia are almost absent. Researchers do not pay enough attention to river floodplains, but such studies are important for assessing the ecological condition of the river system, because a significant part of toxic and genotoxic substances accumulates in the river floodplains A unique feature of the Ob-Irtysh interfluve is its vast floodplain, the largest in the Northern Hemisphere, providing key ecological functions of the territory. Originality of this river system lies not only in enormous size, but also in the exceptional duration and magnitude of spring-summer floods and the formation of complex biogeocenosis. In this data article we provide for the first time genotoxicity data for the Irtysh river valley (West Siberia) which is longest tributary river in the world. Water samples were collected from 5 sites: Irtysh river, floodplain sites (Jivaya river, Mukhrina river, Baybalak river) and terrace (Bog Mukhrino). Allium test was used to assess genotoxic effects. This method is one of the recommended bioassays for rapid genotoxicity screening of the water. Ana-telophase chromosomal aberration assay and micronuclei test were performed to determine genotoxic effects. Obtained data for mitotic index and other phase indexes. Data on water genotoxic effects are accompanied by data on physicochemical parameters. The data shows that the floodplain waters accumulate allochthonous organic matter, which is evidently supplied with high water. This determines the increased genotoxicity of floodplain waters. The data allow other researchers to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the genotoxicity of natural waters on the landscape gradient of a river valley (terrace-floodplain-river) and reveal possible causes of the observed effects.

Genotoxicity of Natural Water during the Mass Development of Cyanobacteria Evaluated by the Allium Test Method: A Model Experiment with Microcosms.

Cyanobacteria, which develop abundantly in aquatic ecosystems, can be harmful to humans and animals not only by releasing toxins that cause poisoning but also by provoking cytogenetic effects. The influence of the mass development of cyanobacteria on the genotoxic properties of natural water has been studied in model ecosystems (microcosms) with different compositions of biotic components (zooplankton, amphipods and fish). The validated plant test system "Allium test" was used in this study. Genotoxic effects were detected at microcystin concentrations below those established by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. In all experimental treatments, cells with disorders such as polyploidy and mitotic abnormalities associated with damage to the mitotic spindle, including c-mitosis, as well as lagging chromosomes were found. Genotoxic effects were associated with the abundance of cyanobacteria, which, in turn, depended on the composition of aquatic organisms in the experimental ecosystem. Fish, to a greater extent than other aquatic animals, maintain an abundance of cyanobacteria. After one month, in microcosms with fish, mitotic abnormalities and polyploidy continued to be detected, whereas in other treatments, there were no statistically significant genotoxic effects. In microcosms with amphipods, the number and biomass of cyanobacteria decreased to the greatest extent, and only one parameter of genotoxic activity (frequency of polyploidy) significantly differed from the control.