Micronucleus in Exfoliated Buccal Cells of Children From Durango, Mexico, Exposed to Arsenic Through Drinking Water

Abstract

Exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) via drinking water in Latin America and Mexico is a growing public health concern that requires rapid methods to assess risk and adverse effects. The measurement of micronucleus frequency (MNf) in oral mucosa is a noninvasive and low-cost method for monitoring the genotoxic damage in exposed populations. Mexican children from Durango city, a zone with high water arsenic concentrations, were selected and assigned to three-risk categories (low, medium, high) based on the use of tap or bottled water. Levels of As in water, urine and MNf, were measured. Results indicate a significant correlation between the groups at risk and the frequency of MNf in children (0.9 ± 1.9 MN, 1.1 ± 1.9, and 2.6 ± 2.2 per 1000 buccal cells, respectively); (r = 0.416; p = 0.001). Which demonstrated that the MNf in oral mucosa is an efficient and low-cost technique for assessing and monitoring DNA damage by exposure to As. This study also provides evidence that the modification of risk factors could reduce health risk.Palabras clave: genotoxicidad, contaminación natural, población vulnerable, riesgos ambientales RESUMEN La exposición a arsénico (As) inorgánico a través del agua de bebida es un problema de salud pública en América Latina y en México que requiere métodos rápidos para evaluar riesgo y efectos adversos. La medición de la frecuencia de micronúcleos (MNf) en mucosa oral es un método no invasivo y de bajo costo para monitorear daño genotóxico en población expuesta a contaminantes ambientales. Para esta investigación, O.D. López Guzmán et al. 282fueron seleccionados niños mexicanos de la ciudad de Durango, una zona con altas concentraciones de As en agua, y asignados en tres categorías de riesgo (baja, media y alta) con base en el uso de agua de la llave o agua embotellada. Se midieron los niveles de As en agua, orina y la MNf. Los resultados indican una correlación significativa entre los grupos de riesgo y la frecuencia de MNf en los niños (0.9 ± 1.9 MN, 1.1 ± 1.9, y 2.6 ± 2.2 por 1000 células bucales, respectivamente); (r = 0.416; p = 0.001). Estos resultados demuestran que la MNf en mucosa oral es una técnica eficiente y de bajo costo para evaluar y monitorear daño al ADN por la exposición a As. Este estudio también provee evidencia de que la modificación de factores de riesgo puede reducir riesgos a la salud.

Is micronucleus assay in oral exfoliated cells a suitable tool for biomonitoring children exposed to environmental pollutants? A systematic review

“…If cytotoxicity is increased, the micronucleus frequency decreased because micronucleated cells are lost as a result of cellular death. The studies conducted by Chokeli et al (2019), De Donno et al (2016), Fleck et al (2014, Hisamuddin et al (2020), How et al (2014), López Guzmán et al (2017, Marcon et al (2014), Panico et al (2020), andSisenando et al (2012) did not evaluate cytotoxicity in oral cells after exposure to environmental pollutants. The average frequency of one micronucleated cell for every 1000 exfoliated cells can be considered a relatively rare factor (Bonassi et al 2011).…”

“…In consideration of the absence of DNA specificity of these stains, the micronucleus identification is very imprecise due to the presence of some cell components in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells that are identical to micronucleus, such as keratin granules, bacteria, or even leukocytes. In the study conducted by Cavalcante et al (2017), Ceretti et al (2014), López Guzmán et al (2017), and Sabah (2021, the authors stained slides with Giemsa. In addition, the study conducted by Chokeli et al (2019) did not indicate the stain used in the methodology.…”

“…The year 2021 was the most recent publication year found and 2012 the oldest. The order of countries that appeared with the most publications on the subject was Italy (Ceretti et al 2014(Ceretti et al , 2020De Donno et al 2016;Idolo et al 2018;Marcon et al 014;Panico et al 2020;Villarini et al 2018), Brazil (Alpire et al 2021;Cavalcante et al 2017;Fleck et al 2014;Silva et al 2015;Sisenando et al 2012), Malaysia (Chokeli et al 2019;Hisamuddin et al 2020;How et al 2014), Mexico (Anguiano-Vega et al 2020Gomez-Arroyo et al, 2013;López Guzmán et al 2017), Argentina (Bernardi et al 2015), and Iraq (Sabah 2021). The results of the characteristics of the included studies are shown in Table 1.…”

“…Of the 20 studies, 12 related to children exposed to air pollution (Cavalcante et al, 2017;Ceretti et al 2014Ceretti et al , 2020De Donno et al 2016;Fleck et al 2014;Hisamuddin et al 2020;Idolo et al 2018;Marcon et al 2014;Panico et al 2020;Sabah, 2021;Silva et al 2015;Sisenando et al, 2012); four reported exposures to pesticides (Anguiano-Vega et al 2020;Bernardi et al 2015;Gomez-Arroyo et al 2013;How et al 2014); two about lifestyle (Alpire et al 2021;Villarini et al 2018); and finally, one article researched exposure to arsenic (López Guzmán et al, 2017) and another to a mobile base station (Chokeli et al 2019). The youngest age found in the articles was 7 months while the oldest was 16 years.…”