Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effects of water boiled in aluminum vessels on Allium cepa root tip cells

Abstract

Cookwares made from aluminum (Al) are supposed to be a potential source of Al contamination of food. In this study, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effects of water boiled in aluminum cookwares on the dividing cells of onion root tip were examined using Allium cepa assay. Three used aluminum cookwares from different sources were selected. Distilled water was gently boiled in each pot and then used for growing onions. The cells of root tip were analyzed for mitotic and phase indexes as well as aberrations appeared in the interphase and mitotic phase. One way analysis of variance and post-hoc Tukey HSD test were applied for comparison between experimental groups. The results showed that the mitotic index in one of the treated groups increased significantly compared to the control. Also the frequency of prophase in two of treated groups increased significantly compared to that of the control. There was a borderline significant increase in the frequency average of total aberrations from three treated groups compared to that of the control ( p value = 0.063). Also, a significant increase was observed in the frequency average of disturbed mitosis from three treated groups compared to that of the control ( p value = 0.04). The findings of this preliminary study supported a possible health hazard of aluminum cookwares. Further investigation with larger sample and food with various compositions is needed to reach a full conclusion about the health effect of aluminum cookwares.

A Survey-Based Analysis of the Extent of Aluminium Involvement in our Lives for Risk Assessment

“…Moreover, recently a correlation between cooking food in aluminium vessels and the onset of Alzheimer's has been established in the Indian population of the Vadodara Region, Gujrat 25 . Nonetheless, the boiling of drinking water in an aluminium vessel was also found significant in our data which is known to facilitate aluminium's leaching in water 26 . Our findings suggest that only a few people are using aluminium foil for baking purposes, which is a relief as baking releases more aluminium in food 10 .…”

The evolutionary history of the lethal amanitin biosynthesis genes in Amanita rubescens complex edible mushrooms and its potential health risk

“…MI was calculated as follows: MI (%) = Mc*100/Tc, where Mc is the total number of cells at any mitotic stage, and Tc the total number of cells. Decreasing MI values reflect a cell's growth deficit that usually is related to cytotoxic agents in the given environment (Zendehboodi, 2018). Here, up to 500 cells were counted in each replicate using an optical microscopy at 40X.…”

Concentration of Selected Elements in the Hair of Malagasy Girls in Relation to Their Nutritional Status and Environmental Exposure

“…Moreover, locals process aluminium using homemade methods (especially close to the studied rural area), but also in factories (close to the capital) for the production and sale of dishes. Additionally, food has been commonly consumed from aluminium vessels and with aluminium kitchen utensils 19 . The Malagasy population habitually drink water boiled in aluminium pots with burnt rice stuck to the bottom.…”