Evaluation of soil genotoxicity in Karvachar and Kapan using the comet assay in ural field mouse (Apodemus uralensis)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was evaluation of soil genotoxicity from Karvachar (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) and Kapan (Republic of Armenia) using the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) on peripheral blood leukocytes of the local Ural field mouse (Apodemus uralensis). DNA damage in mice leukocytes from Karvachar was significantly higher compared to Kapan. It is worth to mention, that in the soil samples from Karvachar the content of Fe, Mg and Ca was significantly higher compared to Kapan indicating potential genotoxic influence. The obtained results confirm that the assessing of genotoxicity by the Comet assay in free-living mice is valuable test in monoitoring of environmental pollution.