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Chemical compounds in the environment, which exhibit toxic and genotoxic activity, increase the mutational pressure on biota. This study aimed to investigate the genotoxic, mutagenic, and toxic effects of water from the Ile River and the Kapshagai Reservoir, both sites of active economic activities. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow from mice exposed to water samples from the Ile River and the Kapshagai Reservoir revealed a statistically significant increase in aberrant (p<0.05) and polyploid cells (p<0.01), as well as a decrease in the mitotic index (p<0.001), compared to the negative control. The water samples caused statistically significant increases in single- and double-strand DNA breaks in cells across various organs in the experimental mice compared to unexposed animals (p<0.001). These observations suggest the existence of chemical compounds within the water samples from the Kapshagai Reservoir and the Ile River, which exhibit genotoxic, mutagenic, and toxic properties.

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Natural aquatic ecosystems are a habitat for many organisms, a source of drinking water, and a resource for human economic activity. However, natural surface waters have been subjected to intense anthropogenic pressure in recent decades. The current study was dedicated to investigating genotoxic potential in 15 rivers and 2 lakes of Almaty agglomeration (Kazakhstan) using a battery of bioassays. Non-diluted surface water samples were tested for mutagenic potential using Lux-based bacterial biosensors and a chromosome aberration test on Hordeum vulgare and Mus musculus. The studies involved lux-biosensors pRecA-lux, pColD-lux, pSoxS-lux, pKatG-lux did not find any genotoxic and oxidative effects. However, the mutagenicity of the studied water samples was detected by using plant and animal tests (Hordeum vulgare and Mus musculus). Mutagenic (increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations) activity of the water samples was observed. Among 17 sample collection points, surface waters of 12 were considered to possess mutagenic activity when tested on Hordeum vulgare. The results of the cytogenetic assay on mice bone marrow are alarming, as the survey proposed the strong genotoxic potential of water for mammals. Among 17 sample collection points, surface waters of 7 were considered to possess mutagenic activity when tested on Mus musculus. This comprehensive study indicates that the contamination of the surface natural waters poses a threat to river dwellers and the human population in the rivers and lakes areas.

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An assessment of the health status of ecosystems exposed to man-made pollution is a vital issue for many countries. Particularly it concerns the consequences of contamination caused by the activity of the space industry. Each rocket launch is accompanied by the introduction of parts of the rocket propellant into the environment. This study aims to scrutinize the effect of the components of rocket fuel on the induction of lipid peroxidation and chromosomal aberrations on rodents inhabiting the area exposed to pollution from Baikonur cosmodrome. The results showed the increase of the level of lipid hydroperoxide and malondialdehyde in the livers of Citellus pygmaeus Pallas and Mus musculus L., which indicates an augmentation of free radical activity and DNA damage. The cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow cells revealed that the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was a few times higher in the rodents from contaminated territory. The signs of oxidative stress and high level of chromosomal aberrations indicate the environmental impact of the cosmodrome, and its possible toxic and mutagenic effects on ecosystems.

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INTRODUCTION: There are an increasing number of different xenobiotics negatively influencing population health. Therefore, it is important to find effective protectors against mutagenic and toxic effects of environmental pollutants. Naturally occurring biologically active substances, the majority of which are antioxidants, are capable of functioning as modifiers of the induced mutation process. The application of various naturally occurring protectors will lower essential risks of congenital malformations, cancer, and hereditary diseases caused by mutational damages. Therefore, it is crucial to screen algal flora of Kazakhstan for the antimutagenic activity. This study involved the assessment of antimutagenic potential of biologically active polypeptide (BAP) produced in mixed microalgae cultures. METHODS: 70 white outbred male rats (Rattus norvegicus) at 6 months of age were used for this study. The dosage of BAP produced by microalgae associates Anabaena flos-aquae x Anabaenopsis sp. comprised 100 mg/kg. Cadmium sulfate was used as a mutagen in a concentration of 1 mg/kg. Experiments on antimutagenic activity of BAP were carried out with the Mammalian Bone Marrow Chromosomal Aberration Test. RESULTS: After acute and subacute exposure of BAP, the level of chromosomal structural abnormalities in rat bone marrow cells was the same as in control group. Therefore, BAP showed no mutagenic activity, whereas exposure to cadmium sulfate at used concentration induced chromosomal aberrations with a significantly higher frequency than the spontaneous mutation rate. The exposure combination of BAP with cadmium sulfate resulted in a two-fold decrease (p< 0.05) of mutagen-induced chromosomal aberrations. The range of induced chromosomal aberrations included alterations of all types both in control and experimental groups. CONCLUSION: Most of the genotoxic effects are mediated through oxidative stress. The repair of DNA damage is an enzymatic process, which depends on the cellular metabolic rate. It has previously been shown that many biologically active substances lead to reduction of DNA sensitivity to mutagenic damaging factors. Based on these facts and obtained results, it can be assumed that BAP from mixed microalgae cultures Anabaena flos-aquae x Anabaenopsis sp. are capable of blocking free radical process reducing the likelihood of genome damage, as well as triggering the cellular repair system.