Assessing the genotoxicity of imidacloprid and RH-5849 in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro with comet assay and cytogenetic tests

A combined approach employing comet assay and micronucleus (MN) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) tests was utilized to assess the genotoxicity of two pesticides, imidacloprid [1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-N-nitro-imidazolidin-2-ylideneamine] and RH-5849 [2′-benzoyl-1′-tert-butylbenzoylhydrazine], on human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro. No significant difference in the frequencies of MN and SCE from the negative groups (P>0.05) was observed at low dose levels (i.e., 0.05 mg/L for imidacloprid and 5 mg/L for RH-5849). As the concentrations of imidacloprid and RH-5849 were increased to 0.1 and 25 mg/L, respectively, significant effects to the frequencies of MN and SCE (P<0.05) were achieved relative to those of the negative controls. MN and SCE frequencies increased similarly in a dose-related manner with both pesticides. With the comet assay, however, the distribution of DNA damage grades in all the pesticide-treated groups was significantly different from those in the control (P<0.01). DNA damage scores increased with the exposure levels of both pesticides, and linear dose–effect relationships were observed for both imidacloprid (r2=0.98) and RH-5849 (r2=0.92). The cytogenetic techniques and comet assay revealed potential adverse effects of both imidacloprid and RH-5849 in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro. Combination of the comet assay and cytogenetic tests appears commendable to assess the potential risks of human exposure to the pesticides.