Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis

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Genetoxicity to human  beings caused by the pollution  of electronic wastes recycling

LIU Qiang1,LI Ke-qiu2,DU Li-qing1,WANG Yan1,XU Chang1,FAN Sai–jun1,LI Guang2,*,Markus Hecker3   

  1. (1. Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin 300192, China; 2. Department of Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China; 3. Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon SK S7N 5B3, Canada)
  • Received:2013-09-05 Revised:2013-09-25 Online:2013-11-30 Published:2013-11-30
  • Contact: LI Guang,E-mail:heshengguang@hotmail.com

Abstract:

 OBJECTIVE: To study cytogenetics change on the residents of three villages in electronic wastes recycling area of a town in Tianjin,and analyze the damaging effect to human beings caused by pollutants of electronic wastes. METHODS:171 residents were randomly selected as population sample chromosome aberration (CA), cytokinesis-blockmicronucleus (CBMN) test and single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) were performed. 30 residents who lived near the electronic waste recycling town but never had contact with electronic wastes were recruited as control group. To assess CA,CBMN and DNA damage of samples in different gender and age,exposure group was divided into subgroups according to gender and age. RESULTS:Total rate of CA of the 171 residents was 5.50%,and CBMN rate was 16.99‰. Significant differences were found in both. The same difference was found in DNA percent in the tail (TDNA,%),tail moment (TM) and Olive tail moment (OTM) detected by SCGE compared with control group. The level of chromosome aberration,micronucleus rate and DNA damage of female group were significantly higher than that of male group,but no significant difference was found among three age groups. CONCLUSION:The pollutants of electronic wastes were latent genetic mutagens indeed,causing cytogenetics damage to the population who have been exposed. The harmful effect to humans and their offsprings should not be ignored.

 

Key words: e-waste, cytogenetics, comet assay, micronucleus assay, chromosome aberration, DNA damage