Single and combined genotoxicity effects of six pollutants on THP-1 cells.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the single and combined genotoxic effects of six food pollutants (Chrysoidine G, Sudan I, acid orange II, malachite green, acrylamide, and potassium bromate) on THP-1 cells through comet assay. The results of the single tests indicated that the pollutants increased the percentage of tail DNA (% tail DNA) in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the % tail DNA values induced by synthetic colorants (Chrysoidine G, Sudan I, acid orange II, and malachite green) were significantly higher than those by acrylamide or potassium bromate at most concentrations. In the combined tests, Chrysoidine G (422 μmol/L) or acrylamide (400 μmol/L) was mixed with different concentrations of the other five pollutants respectively. In the first combined tests, most mixtures significantly increased the % tail DNA values with the exception of Chrysoidine G and acid orange II. In the second tests, there were no significant differences in the % tail DNA values between the single and combined tests at most cases.