Assessment of genotoxic effects of a fungicide product and its active substances on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The genotoxic potential of the plant protection product Signum? and its two active substances (pyraclostrobin and boscalid) was investigated by the comet assay (pH>13). Leukocytes isolated from whole blood were treated with different concentrations (0.1-25 ?g/ml) of the fungicide for 2 h and 20 h. The Trypan Blue exclusion test showed higher cell viability (>84%) under all three concentrations and in the two treatment periods. The obtained results revealed that both Signum? and pyraclostrobin induced statistically significant DNA damage. In contrast, boscalid did not cause statistically significant DNA damage after 2 h exposure although it caused DNA damage at higher concentrations after a longer time exposure (20 h). It is deducible that pyraclostrobin and Signum? might be genotoxic. However, within the studied concentration ranges, none of the fungicides was found to be cytotoxic in the two treatment periods.