| dc.description.abstract | Many industrial byproducts are genotoxic agents that induce cytogenetic changes and DNA
damage. Bruqeen, a Palestinian village in Salfit district in the northern West bank, is subject to
industrial waste products coming from Barqan Israeli industrial settlement. We evaluated the extent
of chromosomal breaks (Csb) and DNA damage induced to human cells using whole blood
samples from both test and control sites. Csb were assessed by routine cytogenetic methods and
DNA damage was assessed via the Comet assay which is also called single cell gel electrophoresis.
Cytogenetic analysis for Bruqeen residents’ sample (n = 30) showed 133 Premature centromere
separation (PCS), 43 Csb, 40 chromatid breaks (Ctb) and 26 dicentrics. In total, the findings
showed an average of 4.08% chromosomal aberrations (CA) and 3.81% cells with CA. The results
of controls (from Bethlehem area n = 8) showed 21 PCS, 2 Csb, 5 Ctb and 2 dicentric, and in total
the average showed 1.97 CA and 1.91% cells with CA. Statistical analysis showed that there were
no significant differences between exposed and control subjects for PCS, Ctb and Dicentric
(p-value > 0.05), but there was a statistically significant difference for CA frequency for cells that
have CA and Csb (p-value < 0.05). Comet assay data on the 25 Bruqeen residents showed that
there was a significant difference from those of the control samples (p-value < 0.05). | en_US |
