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Glyphosate is a widely used broad-spectrum weed control agent. In the present study, an in vivo study on the genotoxic effects of a technical herbicide (Roundup) containing isopropylamine salt of glyphosate was carried out on freshwater goldfish Carassius auratus. The fish were exposed to three doses of glyphosate formulation (5, 10 and 15 ppm). Cyclophosphamide at a single dose of 5 mg/l was used as positive control. Analysis of micronuclei, nuclear abnormalities and DNA damage were performed on peripheral erythrocytes sampled at intervals of 48, 96 and 144 h posttreatment. Our results revealed significant dose-dependent increases in the frequencies of micronuclei, nuclear abnormalities as well as DNA strand breaks. Our findings also confirmed that the alkaline comet assay and nuclear deformations in addition to micronucleus test on fish erythrocytes in vivo are useful tools in determining the potential genotoxicity of commercial herbicides.

To study the effects of occupational exposure to petroleum derivates such as benzene, exfoliated buccal cells from 50 petrol station attendants and 50 age- and sex-matched control subjects were examined for micronucleus (MN) frequency. Frequencies of nuclear abnormalities (NA) other than micronuclei, such as binucleates, karyorrhexis and karyolysis, were also evaluated. Benzene exposure was ascertained by measuring urinary phenol levels. The mean urinary phenol level of station workers was found to be significantly higher than that of control subjects (P < 0.05). Analysis of buccal cells revealed that MN and NA frequencies in petrol station workers were significantly higher than in control subjects (P < 0.01) and also significantly related to smoking habit (P < 0.01). Our findings indicate that the petrol station workers are under risk of significant cytogenetic damage.