Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Br-containing oxaphosphole on Allium cepa L. root tip cells and mouse bone marrow cells

The continuous production and release of chemicals into the environment has led to the need to assess their genotoxicity. Numerous organophosphorus compounds with different structures have been synthesized in recent years, and several oxaphosphole derivatives are known to possess biological activity. Such chemical compounds may influence proliferating cells and cause disturbances of the genetic material. In this study, we examined the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of 4-bromo-N,N-diethyl-5,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1,2-oxaphosphol-2-amine 2-oxide (Br-oxph). In A. cepa cells, Br-oxph (10-9 M, 10 -6 M and 10 -3 M) reduced the mitotic index 48 h after treatment with the two highest concentrations, with no significant effect at earlier intervals. Mitotic cells showed abnormalities 24 h and 48 h after treatment with the two lowest concentrations but there were no consistent changes in interphase cells. Bone marrow cells from mice treated with Br-oxph (2.82 x 10 -3 μg/kg) also showed a reduced mitotic index after 48 h and a greater percentage of cells with aberrations (principally chromatid and isochromatid breaks). These findings indicate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Br-oxph in the two systems studied

Benefits for visitors provided by protected areas in Bulgaria and willingness to become a conservation volunteer

Protected areas in Bulgaria (PAB) provide valuable ecosystem services. Maintaining of ecosystem health is of great importance for human wellbeing. The environmental volunteering is a valuable tool in solving local ecological problems. The main objective of the present research was to identify ecosystem services offered by PAB and attitude to participation in conservation volunteering using online survey and face-to-face interviews. Most respondents regularly use ecosystem services offered by PAB. Being well-informed about significance of maintaining ecosystem health, a lot of them declared willingness to become conservation volunteers. Online surveys could be used not only for data collection, but as also as a tool to involve people in environmental protection

Low dose genotoxicity of 4-bromo-n,n-diethyl-5,5- dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1,2-oxaphosphol-2-amine 2-oxide in mice bone marrow cells and Allium cepa L. root tip cells

The chemistry of organophosphorus compounds is a subject of increasing interest and different new compounds have been synthesized. There are data that some known organophosphates are mutagens. Oxaphosphole derivatives possess biological activity and might influence proliferating cells. Bioassays are currently used in ecotoxicology to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of new chemicals. To provide a broad coverage of the mutagenic potential of a chemical, information on different experimental test-systems is required. Genotoxicity assays are usually performed at high doses, but humans are exposed to most environmental chemicals at low doses. The objective of this study was to determine the genotoxicity of low doses (2.82x10-6 µg/kg and 2.82x10-9 µg/kg, corresponding to concentrations 10-12M and 10-15M) of 4-bromo-N,N-diethyl- 5,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1,2-oxaphosphol-2-amine 2-oxide (Br-oxph) in ICR mice bone marrow cells and Allium cepa L. root tip cells. Treatment with Br-oxph for 3 h produced alterations in the mitotic index in Allium cepa cells and induced chromosome aberrations in both test systems. These effects remained 48 h after the treatment. The data from the study showed the existence of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Br-oxph at tested doses