Concentration-associated genotoxicity of the herbicide marvel in Oreochromis niloticus erythrocytes and in human and mouse Balb/c lymphocytesalb/c

The genotoxic activity of various concentrations of the marvel herbicide (0.76 μg/1 ml, 7.68 μg/1 ml, 76.8 μg/1 ml, 768 μg/1 ml) was evaluated in lymphocytes of humans and in Balb/c strain mice, as well as in erythrocytes of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). They were exposed to each of the concentrations for 6 h, and then genetic damage was evaluated using the comet assay. All concentrations tested induced significant genetic damage compared to the negative control (p < 0.01). On the other hand, there were no differences between the blood cells of the organisms studied. Tail length and tail moment increased starting from 0.76 μg/1 ml concentration, which is the lowest concentration reported to cause any genetic damage. Data suggest that the reported differences regarding the genotoxicity of marvel and its active ingredients are due to the marked differences between the concentrations studied and the adjuvants present in the commercial formulations.