Assessment of DNA Damage by RAPD inParacentrotus lividusEmbryos Exposed to Amniotic Fluid from Residents Living Close to Waste Landfill Sites

Maurizio Guida,Giuseppe Bifulco,Marco Guida,Marianna Scognamiglio,Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo,Bruna De Felice,Cinzia Ferrara,Daniela Santafede,Carmine Nappi,Raffaella D'Alessandro

doi:10.1155/2010/251767

Maurizio Guida, Giuseppe Bifulco + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/251767

Copy DOI

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the genotoxic effects of environmental chemicals on residents living near landfills. The study was based on samples of amniotic fluid from women living in the intensely polluted areas around the Campania region of Italy compared to a nonexposed control group. We evaluated the genetic effects that this amniotic fluids collected in contaminated sites had on Paracentrotus lividus embryos. DNA damage was detected through changes in RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA) profiles. The absence of the amplified DNA fragments indicated deletions in Paracentrotus lividus DNA exposed to the contaminated amniotic fluids when compared to equal exposure to uncontaminated fluids. These results show the ability of RAPD-PCR to detect and isolate DNA sequences representing genetic alterations induced in P. lividus embryos. Using this method, we identified two candidate target regions for DNA alterations in the genome of P. lividus. Our research indicates that RAPD-PCR in P. lividus embryo DNA can provide a molecular approach for studying DNA damage from pollutants that can impact human health. To our knowledge, this is the first time that assessment of DNA damage in P. lividus embryos has been tested using the RAPD strategy after exposure to amniotic fluid from residents near waste landfill sites.

Highlights

EUROHAZCON studies have reported a 33% increase in risk of congenital anomalies, both chromosomal and nonchromosomal, around hazardouswaste landfill sites [1, 2]
These results show the ability of RAPDPCR to detect and isolate DNA sequences representing genetic alterations induced in P. lividus embryos
Our research indicates that random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD)-PCR in P. lividus embryo DNA can provide a molecular approach for studying DNA damage from pollutants that can impact human health

Summary

Introduction

EUROHAZCON studies have reported a 33% increase in risk of congenital anomalies, both chromosomal and nonchromosomal, around hazardouswaste landfill sites [1, 2]. Hazardous-waste sites in the Campania region of Italy differ in that they are distributed over a wide densely populated area, with an estimated 1230 illegal dump sites in what has been referred to as “The Triangle of Death” [3,4,5,6]. This is because, since the 1980s, hazardous-waste dumping has gone on largely uncontrolled. This overabundant contamination of cropland, water, and air has generated deep concern about its adverse impact on human health and the environment

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion