Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geosmin induces genomic instability in the mammalian cell microplate-based comet assay

  • Short Research and Discussion Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Geosmin (GEO) (trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol) is a metabolite that renders earthy and musty taste and odor to water. Data of GEO genotoxicity on mammalian cells are scarce in the literature. Thus, the present study assessed the genotoxicity of GEO on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in the microplate-based comet assay. The percent of tail DNA (tail intensity (TI)), tail moment (TM), and tail length (TL) were used as parameters for DNA damage assessment. The results demonstrated that concentrations of GEO of 30 and 60 μg/mL were genotoxic to CHO cells after 4- and 24-h exposure periods, in all parameters evaluated, such as TI, TM, and TL. Additionally, GEO 15 μg/mL was genotoxic in the three parameters only in the 24-h exposure time. The same was observed for GEO 7.5 μg/mL, which induced significant DNA damage observed as TI in the 24-h treatment. The results present evidence that exposure to GEO may be associated with genomic instability in mammalian cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aardema MJ, Snyder RD, Spicer C, Divi K, Morita T, Mauthe RJ, Gibson DP et al (2006) SFTG international collaborative study on in vitro micronucleus test III. Using CHO cells. Mutat Res 607:61–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belsito D, Bickers D, Bruze M, Calow P, Greim H, Hanifin JM, Rogers AE et al (2008) A toxicologic and dermatologic assessment of cyclic and non-cyclic terpene alcohols when used as fragrance ingredients. Food Chem Toxicol 46:s1–s71

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgos L, Lehmann M, Simon D, de Andrade HH, de Abreu BR, Nabinger DD, Grivicich I et al (2014) Agents of earthy-musty taste and odor in water: evaluation of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and toxicogenomics. Sci Total Environ 490:679–685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butakova EA (2013) Specific features of odor-causing compounds (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol) as secondary metabolites of cyanobacteria. Russ J Plant Physiol 60:507–510

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chorus I, Bartram J (1999) Toxic cyanobacteria in water: a guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and management. E & FN Spon, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson K, Gowen RJ, Tett P, Bresnan E, Harrison PJ, McKinney A, Milligan S et al (2012) Harmful algal blooms: how strong is the evidence that nutrient ratios and forms influence their occurrence? Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 115:399–413

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Freitas AM, Sirtori C, Peralta-Zamora PG (2008) Avaliação do potencial de processos oxidativos avançados para remediação de águas contaminadas com geosmina e 2-MIB. Quim Nov. 31:75–78

  • Di Bernardo L (1995) Algas e suas influências na qualidade das águas e nas tecnologias de tratamento. ABES, Rio de Janeiro

    Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi CP, Lawlao JE, McFarland JPB (1993) Evaluation of the effects of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol on the histidine dependence of TA98 and TA100 Salmonella typhimurium tester trains. Water Res 27:1615–1618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FUNASA Fundação Nacional de Saúde (2003) Cianobactérias Tóxicas na Água para Consumo Humano na Saúde Pública e Processo de Remoção em Água para Consumo Humano. Ministério da Saúde, Brasília

    Google Scholar 

  • Gagné F, Ridal J, Blaise C, Brownlee B (1999) Toxicological effects of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol on rainbow trout hepatocytes. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 63:174–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho L, Sawade E, Newcombe G (2012) Biological treatment options for cyanobacteria metabolite removal—a review. Water Res 46:1536–1548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang WJ, Lai CH, Cheng YL (2007) Evaluation of extracellular products and mutagenicity in cyanobacteria cultures separated from a eutrophic reservoir. Sci Total Environ 377:214–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knasmüller S, Parzefall W, Sanyal R, Ecker S, Schwab C, Uhl M, Mersch-Sundermann V, Williamson G, Hietsch G, Langer T, Darroudi F, Natarajan AT (2008) Use of metabolically competent human hepatoma cells for the detection of mutagens and antimutagens. Mutat Res 402:185–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumaravel TS, Jha NA (2006) Reliable Comet assay measurements for detecting DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation and chemicals. Mutat Res 605:7–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mochida K (2009) Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol using cultured human, monkey, and dog cells. Biocontrol Sci 14:35–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muellner MG, Wagner ED, McCalla K, Richardson SD, Woo YT, Plewa MJ (2007) Haloacetonitriles vs. regulated haloacetic acids: are nitrogen containing DBPs ore toxic? Environ Sci Technol 41:645–651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakajima M, Ogura T, Kusama Y, Iwabuchi N, Imawaka T, Araki A, Sasaki T et al (1996) Inhibitory effects of odor substances, geosmin and 2-methylisobomeol, on early development of sea urchins. Water Res 30:2508–2511

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2014) In vitro mammalian cell micronucleus test, test guideline no. 487, OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals, Paris. Available from: http://www.oecd.org/env/testguidelines

  • Qin BQ, Gao G, Zhu GW, Zhang YL, Song YZ, Tang XM, Xu H et al (2013) Lake eutrophication and its ecosystem response. Chin Sci Bull 58:961–970

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rittmann BE, Gantzer CJ, Montiell A (1995) Biological treatment to control taste-and-odor compounds in drinking water treatment. In: Suffet IH, Mallevialle J, Kawczynski E (eds) Advances in taste-and-odor treatment and control. American Water Works Association Research Foundation, Denver, pp 209–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen KC, Stucki JW, Warner RE, Wagner ED, Plewa MJ (2005) Modulation of the genotoxicity of pesticides reacted with redox-modified smectite clay. Environ Mol Mutagen 46:174–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terauchi N, Ohtani T, Yamanaka K, Tsuji T, Sudou T, Ito K (1995) Studies on a biological filter for musty odor removal in drinking water treatment processes. Water Sci Technol 31:229–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tice RR, Agurell E, Anderson D, Burlinson B, Hartamnn A, Kobayashi H, Miyamae Y et al (2000) Single cell gel/comet assay: guidelines for in vitro and in vivo genetic toxicology testing. Environ Mol Mutagen 35:206–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner ED, Plewa MJ (2009) Microplate-based comet assay. In: Dhawan A, Anderson D (eds) The comet assay in toxicology. RSC Publishing, Cambridge, pp 79–97

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetic Toxicity Laboratory (TOXIGEN), Post-Graduation Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology Applied to Health, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Prédio 22, 4° andar, sala 20, Avenida Farroupilha, 8001, 92425-900, Canoas, RS, Brazil

    Aline Flor Silva, Mauricio Lehmann & Rafael Rodrigues Dihl

Authors
  1. Aline Flor Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mauricio Lehmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rafael Rodrigues Dihl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rafael Rodrigues Dihl.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Silva, A.F., Lehmann, M. & Dihl, R.R. Geosmin induces genomic instability in the mammalian cell microplate-based comet assay. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 17244–17248 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5381-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5381-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation