Li Chen Tânia, Wise Sandra S, Kraus Scott, Shaffiey Fariba, Levine Kaitlynn M, Thompson W Douglas, Romano Tracy, O'Hara Todd, Wise John Pierce
Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine 04103, USA.
Environ Mol Mutagen. 2009 Jun;50(5):387-93. doi: 10.1002/em.20471.
Hexavalent chromium compounds are present in the atmosphere and oceans and are established mutagens and carcinogens in human and terrestrial mammals. However, the adverse effects of these toxicants in marine mammals are uncertain. Previously, we reported that North Atlantic right whales, one of the most endangered great whales, have tissue chromium levels that are high, levels that may pose a risk to the whale's health. Furthermore, the study suggested that inhalation may be an important exposure route. Exposure to chromium through inhalation is mainly because of particulate compounds. However, the toxicity of particulate chromium compounds in marine mammal cells is unknown. Accordingly, in this study, we tested the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of particulate hexavalent chromium in primary cultured lung and skin fibroblasts from the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Cytotoxicity was measured by clonogenic survival assay, and genotoxicity was measured as production of chromosome aberrations. Particulate hexavalent chromium induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner in both right whale lung and skin fibroblasts. Lung fibroblasts were more resistant to chromium cytotoxicity, but presented with more chromosome damage than skin fibroblasts. These data further support the hypothesis that chromium may be a health concern for the endangered North Atlantic right whale.
六价铬化合物存在于大气和海洋中，是已确定的对人类和陆生哺乳动物具有致突变性和致癌性的物质。然而，这些有毒物质对海洋哺乳动物的不利影响尚不确定。此前，我们报道过北大西洋露脊鲸是最濒危的大型鲸鱼之一，其组织中的铬含量很高，这种含量可能会对鲸鱼的健康构成风险。此外，该研究表明吸入可能是一个重要的接触途径。通过吸入接触铬主要是由于颗粒化合物。然而，颗粒铬化合物对海洋哺乳动物细胞的毒性尚不清楚。因此，在本研究中，我们测试了颗粒状六价铬对濒危的北大西洋露脊鲸原代培养的肺和皮肤成纤维细胞的细胞毒性和遗传毒性。通过克隆形成存活试验测量细胞毒性，以染色体畸变的产生来测量遗传毒性。颗粒状六价铬在北大西洋露脊鲸的肺和皮肤成纤维细胞中均以浓度依赖的方式诱导细胞毒性和遗传毒性。肺成纤维细胞对铬细胞毒性的耐受性更强，但与皮肤成纤维细胞相比，其染色体损伤更多。这些数据进一步支持了铬可能是濒危的北大西洋露脊鲸健康问题的这一假设。
