Although pesticides are commonly used in Canada for vegetable and fruit fields, several of them contain mutagenic properties such as gene mutation and DNA damage (Ahmadi 2011). At high concentrations some pesticides can increase incidence of cancer, suppression of the immune system, and neurological disorders (Ahmadi 2011).
Pesticides bind with DNA through the grooves of the double helix, which in turn causes hydrophobic interactions between the pesticide and either the groove or wall of DNA (Ahmadi 2011). Pesticides bind covalently to DNA forming DNA adducts which increase the probability for mutations during replication (Ahmadi 2011).
Chlorothalonil is a commonly used fungicide in Canada for vegetable and fruit fields as well as lawns and turfs. Using a single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay DNA damage was observed for chlorothalonil within a 0.2 to 1μm concentration range (Vigreux et al. 1998). Using an alkaline SCGE assay it was detected that chlorothalonil induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes, although it is not genotoxic (Vigreux et al. 1998). When introduced into the body in sizable concentrations it begins to affect the structure of chromosomes via chromosome breaks (Vigreux et al. 1998). When a …show more content…
A low concentration of these substances can be found in the form of methyl parathion (PT), and methyl paraoxon (PO) and when ingested induces DNA damage and affects cell production to decrease substantially in human hepatoma cells (HepG2) (Hreljac et al. 2008). The strongest genotoxic effect occurred when HepG2 cells were specifically exposed to PT, which caused an increase in cellular components in all four DNA damaged base pairs (Hreljac et al. 2008). Additionally, toxicity of this pesticide can inhibit acetylcholine esterase in cells in the nervous system that can result in a decrease in nerve impulses being transmitted (Pope
Pesticides bind with DNA through the grooves of the double helix, which in turn causes hydrophobic interactions between the pesticide and either the groove or wall of DNA (Ahmadi 2011). Pesticides bind covalently to DNA forming DNA adducts which increase the probability for mutations during replication (Ahmadi 2011).
Chlorothalonil is a commonly used fungicide in Canada for vegetable and fruit fields as well as lawns and turfs. Using a single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay DNA damage was observed for chlorothalonil within a 0.2 to 1μm concentration range (Vigreux et al. 1998). Using an alkaline SCGE assay it was detected that chlorothalonil induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes, although it is not genotoxic (Vigreux et al. 1998). When introduced into the body in sizable concentrations it begins to affect the structure of chromosomes via chromosome breaks (Vigreux et al. 1998). When a …show more content…
A low concentration of these substances can be found in the form of methyl parathion (PT), and methyl paraoxon (PO) and when ingested induces DNA damage and affects cell production to decrease substantially in human hepatoma cells (HepG2) (Hreljac et al. 2008). The strongest genotoxic effect occurred when HepG2 cells were specifically exposed to PT, which caused an increase in cellular components in all four DNA damaged base pairs (Hreljac et al. 2008). Additionally, toxicity of this pesticide can inhibit acetylcholine esterase in cells in the nervous system that can result in a decrease in nerve impulses being transmitted (Pope