GENOTOXIC EFFECTS OF COMPLEX MARINE SEDIMENT EXTRACTS ON V79 CHINESE-HAMSTER LUNG FIBROBLASTS

A mammalian in vitro system was used to evaluate the genotoxic potential of two complex environmental samples. Sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were measured in Chinese hamster V79 lung fibroblast cells, following exposure to whole extracts of sediments collected from a highly contaminated harbor-Black Rock Harbor, Connecticut (BRH)-and from a reference site-central Long Island Sound (CLIS). Characterization of BRH sediment by analysis of prepared chemical extracts revealed high concentrations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, anthraquinones, carbazoles, and several inorganic substances that are genotoxic and capable of inducing SCEs. The CLIS sediment, although cleaner than BRH sediment, does contain low levels of similar contaminants. For instance, BRH sediment contains 3.16-mu-g/g of the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene (BP), whereas CLIS sediment contains only 0.807-mu-g/g BP. Sediments were extracted with organic solvents and redissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for culture exposure. Following exposure, extract-treated cells were evaluated for increased frequencies of SCEs. All assays were performed with and without exogenous S9 activation. Positive responses were observed only in the presence of exogenous S9 metabolism. Results indicated a concentration-dependent increase in SCEs in cells exposed to whole BRH sediment extracts and a smaller but significant increase in SCEs in cells exposed to whole CLIS sediment extracts. Four times as much CLIS material (0.13 g extracted sediment [dry wt.]/ml of exposure media) was needed to induce a significant doubling in SCEs, compared to BRH material, in which only 0.03 g extracted sediment (dry wt.)/ml of exposure media was needed. These findings imply that this short-term in vitro bioassay can be used to evaluate the genotoxic potential of complex environmental samples such as contaminated marine sediments.