Genotoxic effects of diazinon on human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes following 24 and 48- hour exposure to a commercial diazinon formulation Basudin 60EM® at concentrations between 0.01 and 40 μg mL-1. For this purpose we used the micronucleus (MN), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. Diazinon significantly increased the frequency of micronucleated cells compared to control. Forty-eight-hour exposure increased this frequency even at lower concentrations (0.01-10 μg mL-1). The FISH results revealed aneugenic effects at 10 μg mL-1. The comet assay also confirmed DNA damage at concentrations between 10 and 40 μg mL-1. Our findings have confirmed the genotoxic potential of diazinon and its cytotoxic effect on human lymphocytes. The increased DNA damage in our study raises concern about the current assessment of the health risk posed by this pesticide and calls for a high level of caution in agricultural and household use.