engleski

Evaluation of DNA Damage in Subjects Occupationally Exposed to Pesticides Using Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE) Assay

The comet assay, also called the single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) is a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of DNA damage (strand breaks and alkali-labile sites) in individual cells. The assay is based on the embedding of cells in agarose, their lysis in alkaline buffer and finally subjection to an electric current. In the present study, alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis was used to evaluate the extent of primary DNA damage and DNA repair in peripheral blood lymphocytes of subjects employed in pesticide production. After the period of high pesticide exposure lymphocytes of the occupationally exposed subjects manifested increased tail length and tail moment compared with the control group. After the workers spent next 6 months out of the pesticide exposure zone both endpoints were still increased in comparison to the control but significantly decreased in comparison to results of the first sample analysis.

DNA damage; comet assay; human biomonitoring; pesticides

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