Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies, National Research Council (IRPPS-CNR), 72100 Brindisi, Italy.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb 13;17(4):1208. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17041208.
Micronuclei (MN) are biomarkers of early biological effect often used for detecting DNA damage in human population exposed to genotoxic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of MN in exfoliated buccal cells of children living in an industrialized (impacted) area compared with that found in children living in a control area without significant anthropogenic impacts. A total of 462 6-8-year-old children (206 in the impacted area, 256 in the control area) attending primary school were enrolled. A questionnaire was administered to the parents of the recruited children to obtain information about personal data, lifestyles, and food habits of their children. Atmospheric particulate fractions were collected near the involved schools to assess the level of environmental exposure of the children. The presence of MN was highlighted in 68.4% of children living in the impacted area with a mean MN frequency of 0.66‱ ± 0.61‱. MN positivity and frequency were significantly lower in the control area (37.1% and 0.27‱ ± 0.43‱, respectively). The frequency of MN was positively associated with quasi-ultrafine particulate matter (PM), traffic near the home, and consuming barbecued food; while adherence to the Mediterranean diet and practicing sport were negatively associated.
微核（MN）是一种早期生物学效应的生物标志物，常用于检测暴露于遗传毒性物质的人群中的 DNA 损伤。本研究旨在评估生活在工业化（受影响）地区的儿童与生活在没有显著人为影响的对照地区的儿童的脱落口腔细胞中 MN 的频率。共有 462 名 6-8 岁的儿童（受影响地区 206 名，对照地区 256 名）参加了小学。对招募儿童的家长进行问卷调查，以获取有关其儿童个人资料、生活方式和饮食习惯的信息。在参与学校附近收集大气颗粒物分数，以评估儿童的环境暴露水平。在受影响地区，68.4%的儿童出现 MN，平均 MN 频率为 0.66‰±0.61‰。对照地区 MN 阳性率和频率明显较低（分别为 37.1%和 0.27‰±0.43‰）。MN 的频率与准超细微粒物质（PM）、家庭附近的交通以及食用烧烤食品呈正相关；而坚持地中海饮食和进行体育锻炼则呈负相关。
