Chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei and nuclear buds induced in human lymphocytes by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid pesticide formulation.

Pesticides of worldwide application are used in agriculture in vast amounts each year, of which herbicides are the most prominent class. Phenoxyacetic herbicides constitute one of the largest groups of herbicides sold in the world. Among them, for many years 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) has been the one most used. In this study we used Deherban A, a commercial formulation of 2,4-D to determine its possible genotoxic effect on human lymphocytes in vitro by chromosomal aberration analysis and micronucleus assay including the scoring of nuclear buds. Two different concentrations of pesticide formulation were used so that final concentrations of 2,4-D were 0.4 and 4 microg/ml, both in the presence and in the absence of the liver microsomal fraction as metabolic activator. Both concentrations of pesticide caused an increase in chromatid and chromosome breaks, number of micronuclei and number of nuclear buds. Presence of the S9 mix additionally elevated the number of chromatid breaks and micronuclei in treated lymphocytes.