Genomic instability in Buccal mucosal cells of children living in abnormal conditions from Santos-Sao Vicente Estuary

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate genomic instability and cytotoxicity in buccal mucosa cells of children living in abnormal conditions from Santos Sao Vicente estuary. The study area is located between coordinates 23°58ʹ11.8”S and 46°24ʹ26.3”W, in the southwestern zone of the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 40 children was distributed into two groups: exposed and non-exposed groups. The frequency of micronuclei increased to buccal mucosa cells of children living in Santos Sao Vicente estuary when compared to the non-exposed group (p < 0.05). No remarkable differences on buccal cells were found inpyknosis, karyorrhexis and karyolysi between groups. Taken together, our results suggest that children living in contaminated areas comprise a high group for genomic instability on buccal mucosa cells. Given that the current investigation is a preliminary study, further analysis with a larger sample of children is interesting as a future perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• Buccal cells
• estuary
• pollution
• children
• micronucleus test
• biomonitoring

Acknowledgments

DAR and CDSP are recipients of the CNPq (ConselhoNacional de DesenvolvimentoCientifico e Tecnologico) productivity fellowship. CMM is the recipient of the CNPq, PhD scholarship.

Author Contributions

Research project conception: MESA, CDSP and DAR. Experimental design: MESA and CMC. Writing the paper: all authors.