In vivo and in vitro genotoxicity assessment of 2-methylisoborneol, causal agent of earthy–musty taste and odor in water

Abstract

The water eutrophication process by phosphorus and nitrogen allows cyanobacteria blooms which promote, among other effects, the generation and release of the metabolite 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) in the environment. This substance has been shown to be recalcitrant to conventional water treatment, degrading water quality. Considering the limited number of studies on the biological effects of 2-MIB in eukaryotic organisms, the present study assessed the genotoxicity of 2-MIB using the in vitro comet assay and cytokinesis block-micronucleus (CBMN-Cytome) assay on Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and the in vivo Drosophila melanogaster Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART). The results showed that 2-MIB (125, 250 and 500µg/mL) was unable to induce gene and chromosome mutations or events associated with mitotic recombination in the SMART. Similarly, four different concentrations (7.5, 15, 30 and 60µg/mL) of 2-MIB did not induce increments in frequencies of micronuclei, nuclear buds, and nucleoplasmatic bridges in the CBMN-Cytome assay. In the comet assay, the positive results were restricted to the highest dose, 60µg/mL of 2-MIB. The results obtained may help evaluate the genotoxic profile of extracellular algal products.