Application of a Plant Test System in the Identification of Potential GeneticHazards at Chemical Waste Sites

摘要

The authors utilized the Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) assay forevaluating genetic hazards at a chemical waste site contaminated with agricultural insecticides scheduled for clean-up under the Superfund program. The chemical analysis of soil samples from the site indicates presence of lindane (17 mg/kg), beta BHC (13 mg/kg), and heptachlor (0.4 mg/kg) in the subsurface sample. Tradescantia plants were planted at five locations to evaluate the mutagenic effects of the total environment, i.e., soil, water, and air. In addition, stem cuttings were also placed at these locations to sample the genetic impact of vapor phase organics in the atmosphere. The surface and subsurface samples were obtained from these locations for their chemical and biological analysis in the laboratory. The results of the Tradescantia planted on the site, as well as the stem cuttings exposed on the test site, showed significantly higher frequencies of micronuclei from contaminated plots before remediation; but no genetic activity was detected after the remedial action. The plants exposed to the soil samples in the laboratory yielded nonsignificant results except for one subsurface sample before remediation and two surface samples after remediation.