Genotoxicity biomonitoring in coal regions using wild rodent Ctenomys torquatus by comet assay and micronucleus test

Coal is a mixture of a variety of chemicals, especially hydrocarbons, which may give rise to poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Many PAH compounds produce mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. The quality of mineral coal in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is low and it is typically obtained by stripping operations; it represents approximately 87% of the Brazil reserves. This report concerns the application of the Comet assay to Ctenomys torquatus to detect the effects of coal, comparing the results with a micronucleus (MN) assay, both using peripheral blood. This study was performed over a 2-year period in an attempt to evaluate seasonal patterns. The wild rodent is fossorial, and its geographic distribution in RS coincides with the distribution of coal reserves. Three localitions were studied: two coal fields, Butia (in a strip cool mine region) and Candiota (near a strip coal mine), and one control region, Pelotas (no coal). At the end of 2 years, 240 rodents had been analyzed. Our results showed that coal and derivatives induced DNA and chromosomal lesions in rodent cells that were demonstrated by Comet and MN assays. These tests also demonstrated quantitative differences between field exposures (Candiota > Butia). The Comet assay was more sensitive and also showed a direct relationship between age and damage, and an inverse relationship between temperature and damage index. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.