3-nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA) induced micronucleus formation and DNA damage in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells

3-Nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA), identified in diesel exhaust and in airborne particulate matter, is a potent mutagen in Salmonella, induces micronuclei formation in mice and in human cells and DNA adducts in rats. In the present study, we investigated the genotoxic potency of 3-NBA in human HepG2 cells using the micronucleus (MN) assay and the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE). 3-NBA caused a genotoxic effect at concentrations greater than or equal to 12 nM in both assays. In the micronucleus assay, we found 98.7 +/- 10.3 MN/1000 BNC at a concentration of 100 nM 3-NBA in comparison to 27.3 +/- 0.6 MN/1000 BNC with the negative control. At the same concentration, the DNA-migration (SCGE) showed an Olive tail moment (OTM) of 2.7 +/- 0.45 and %DNA in the tail of 8.28 +/- 0.76; OTM and %DNA in the tail of cells treated with the negative control were 0.73 +/- 0.08 and 2.81 +/- 0.30, respectively. The results are discussed under consideration of former studies. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.