Assessment of mutagenic effects: Combined impact of nitrogen-fixing compounds and phenol on plant and animal organisms.

Abstract

Introduction: Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation, and increased use of agricultural chemicals have significantly contributed to environmental pollution, particularly affecting air, water, and soil quality. These pollutants, including nitrogen-containing compounds and phenol, pose mutagenic risks, potentially leading to genetic alterations and health issues in exposed populations. This study aims to evaluate the mutagenic potential of sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, phenol, and their combinations on plant and animal cells.

Materials and methods: The study utilised two experimental models: Triticum aestivum (soft wheat) and albino mice. Wheat seeds were treated with ten different solutions, including sodium nitrate (0.5%), sodium nitrite (0.5%), phenol (0.1% and 0.01%), and their combinations. Chromosomal aberrations in the wheat root tips were assessed using the acetocarmine staining method. For the animal model, albino mice were divided into control and experimental groups, receiving varying concentrations of sodium nitrate and phenol, both individually and in combination. Bone marrow smears were analysed for chromosomal aberrations, including fragments and rings, using metaphase plates.

Results: In wheat, the combined exposure to sodium nitrate (0.5%), sodium nitrite (0.5%), and phenol (0.1%) caused a significant increase in genetic alterations compared to individual treatments, with a mutation frequency 4.5 times higher than the control. In albino mice, combined exposure to high doses of phenol and nitrates induced cytogenetic changes, with the mutation frequency reaching 12.7%-1.5 times higher than the control group. Individual exposures to phenol and nitrates did not produce statistically significant mutations compared to controls.

Conclusion: The combination of phenol, sodium nitrate, and sodium nitrite had a synergistic mutagenic effect in both plants and animals, leading to more significant genetic damage than individual exposures. These findings highlight the need for careful management of environmental pollutants, as their combined impact may pose serious risks to ecological and human health. Further clinical studies are necessary to assess these effects in human populations.