Genotoxicity analysis of the phenoxy herbicide dicamba in mammalian cells in vitro

The cytogenetic effects exerted by the phenoxy herbicide dicamba and one of its commercial formulations banvel((R)) (57.71% dicamba) were studied in in vitro whole blood human lymphocyte cultures. The genotoxicity of herbicides was measured by analysis of the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and cell-cycle progression assays. Both dicamba and banvel((R)) activities were tested within 10.0-500.0 mu g/ml doses range. Only concentrations of 200.0 mu g/ml of dicamba and 500.0 mu g/ml of banvel((R)) induced a significant increase in SCE frequency over control values. The highest dose of dicamba tested (500.0 mu g/ml) resulted in cell culture cytotoxicity. The cell-cycle kinetics was affected by both test compounds since a significant delay in cell-cycle progression and a significant reduction of the proliferative rate index were observed after the treatment with 100.0 and 200.0 mu g/ml of dicamba and 200.0 and 500.0 mu g/ml of banvel((R)). For both chemicals, a progressive dose-related inhibition of the mitotic activity of cultures was observed. Moreover, only the mitotic activity statistically differed from control values when doses of both chemicals higher than 100.0 mu g/ml were employed. On the basis of our results, the herbicide dicamba is a DNA damage agent and should be considered as a potentially hazardous compound to humans. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.