Biological activity resulting from exposure to aquatic environmental genotoxic pollutants in northern Egypt

Abstract

We estimated pollution in Lake Edku and the Mediterranean Sea, El-Maadiya Region, with 3 aromatic amines [‎1-naphthylamine, 2-naphthylamine and benzidine]‎ in the muscle tissue of fish. There were marked seasonal variations in the aromatic amine levels. We also determined oxidative stress [‎blood glutathione, and catalase activity]‎ and genotoxic effects [‎chromosomal aberrations and urinary metabolites]‎ in fishermen from each area. The fishermen suffered from oxidative stress and had high levels of the urinary metabolite sulfanilamide [‎mean [‎microg/mg creatinine]‎: Lake Edku 20.7, Mediterranean 14.5, controls 5.3]‎. Frequencies for total chromosomal aberrations were significantly raised in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of fishermen in both areas [‎frequency [‎per 100 metaphases]‎: Mediterranean 67, Lake Edku 45, controls 14]‎