Use of Micronucleus Test for Screening the Potential Genotoxicity of Polluted Water

Magdalena Kosz-Vnenchak, Katarzyna Rokosz, Anna Szuster, Róza Kubiak*

Institute of Molecular Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
*Department of Internal and Occupational Medicine, Collegium Medicum, 
Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland

Corresponding author: Magdalena Kosz-Vnenchak PhD
Institute of Molecular Biology, Jagiellonian University,
Al. Mickiewicza 3, 31–120 Kraków, Poland
Tel: 48 12 341305, Fax: 48 12 336907,
e-mail: magda@mol.uj.edu.pl

Abbreviations:
    B(a)P: benzo(a)pyrene
    CA: chromosomal aberrations
    CB: cytokinesis block
    Hep G2: human hepatoma cells
    MN: micronuclei
    SCE: sister chromatid exchanges

CEJOEM 1996; 2(4):329–334

Abstract: The study of micronuclei was performed on human hepatoma cells (Hep G2) treated in vitro with polluted water samples taken from waste water from some selected industrial processing plants in Kraków: 1. the coke-oven division and the steel foundry in the steel mill, 2. the thermal-electric power station, 3. the institute of machining, 4. the pharmaceutical factory, 5. the car-engine repair plant, 6. the waste water purification station. The frequencies of mic-ro-nuclei (MN) increased significantly in the cells treated with the polluted water samples (1–6.6 %). The results were higher than in control (0.8–1.1 %). The highest number of MN was found in the cells treated with water from the coke-oven. The results indicate that micronucleus assay is a sensitive test for the measurements of potential genotoxicity of water pollutants.

Key words: Micronuclei, water pollutants, industrial plants, HepG2 cells

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