Genome instability as an indicator of environmental state in the Murmansk region

Abstract

The data of various researchers indicate that the combined effects of natural and anthropogenic factors directly affect the nature of the territorial morbidity of the inhabitants of the Far North. In biomonitoring of the environment, a micronucleus test on human cells is widely used to assess the degree of genotoxicity of the comparison areas. The aim of the research is to study the local situation with the accumulation of lesions in the lymphocytes of children living in the Murmansk region using a micronucleus test. As a result of assessing the cytogenetic status of the child population living in the comparison territories (Krasnoshchelye, Lovozero, Umba, Apatity), specific territorial features of the cytogenetic status of children were revealed, which are probably associated with the prevailing morbidity in the territories comparisons. This is probably due to territorial genotoxic and toxic agents. Significant differences in the frequency of occurrence of binucleated lymphocytes with micronuclei in schoolchildren were noted when all cells (mononuclear, binuclear, trinuclear, quadrenuclear cells, as well as cells containing more than 4 nuclei) were taken into account between Krasnoshchelye, Lovozero (U = 45.0, p = 0.0009), Umba (U = 91.0, p = 0.0125) and Apatity (U = 113.0, p = 0.0125). Also, significant differences were noted between the frequency of occurrence of cells with micronuclei among cells that did not respond to the mitogenic signal (mononuclear) and contain more than 2 nuclei in lymphocytes between adolescents from Krasnoshchelye and Apatity (U = 109.0, p = 0.0093) and Umba (U = 73.5, p = 0.0025). When comparing the frequency of occurrence of all types of cells containing micronuclei in the lymphocytes of adolescents, significant differences were revealed between the frequency of occurrence of such cells in adolescents from Apatity and Umba (U = 97.0, p = 0.0036).