Genotoxic substances (mutagenic)

Genotoxic substances (mutagenic) are substances which, after inhalation, ingestion or skin penetration, can induce or increase the frequency of genetic damage. Mutagenic substances cause a change in the genetic code of cells. Mutation is a permanent change in the amount or structure of genetic material in an organism, which results in a change in the characteristics of the organism. Changes can involve a single gene, a block of genes, or an entire chromosome.

Occurrence of genotoxic substances
These are substances that are contained all around us - in the air, soil, water, food and our home environment. . Furthermore, the mutagenic effect was demonstrated for a number of drugs - antibiotics, cytostatics and disinfectants. They can occur naturally, but more often they are products of human activity.

In the food can be detected: In water can be detected:
 * naturally genotoxic substances: flavonoids (quarcetin, rutin) and tannins (their contribution to damage is minimal);
 * mycotoxins: (aflatoxin B1 – produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, paulin, ochratoxin): products of fungi arising from improper storage of food (cereals, nuts, beans);
 * substances of artificial origin:
 * Nitrates, nitrites and nitrosamines – in meat, sausages and cheeses; pyrolyzates of amino acids are created by inappropriate heat treatment of meat;
 * polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polyhalogen hydrocarbons (PCB/TCDD/F), pesticides - DDT, HCH (these substances are accumulated in adipose tissue);
 * metals with a genotoxic effect - arsenic, hexavalent chromium, nickel, cadmium, lead.
 * products for disinfection of drinking water by chlorination (chloroform, dichlorophenols, dichlorobenzene);
 * styrene and formaldehyde.

In the air we find a number of substances that are bound to local activity:
 * metals and their compounds (arsenic, chromium, nickel, lead, cadmium);
 * organic compounds (benzene, formaldehyde).

In the domestic environment substances are released from building elements, furniture and textiles:
 * formaldehyde, styrene, acrylates, phthalates, vinyl chloride.

Types of mutations and their health significance

 * Gene (point) mutations - arise by changing the sequence of nucleotides in the DNA molecule. They affect individual genes, are transmitted to subsequent generations of cells and offspring, and represent a serious burden on the gene pool of the population. Gene mutations are not detectable under an optical microscope.
 * congenital metabolic disorders (phenylketonuria, galactosemia)
 * chondrodystrophy, hemophilia
 * Chromosome (chromosome aberrations) - are changes in the structure of chromosomes. The condition is a chromosome break followed by a faulty connection or the loss of a part of the chromosome. They are usually not passed on to the next generation. They pose a serious risk to the affected individual. They are detectable in an optical microscope.
 * activation of the oncogene at the break point
 * degenerative disease (atherosclerosis)
 * accelerated aging of cells and tissues
 * Genome (aberration of the number of chromosomes) - this is a change in whole multiples of the haploid number of chromosomes (triploidy, tetraploidy, polyploidy). They are detectable in an optical microscope.
 * syndromes Down's, Turner's, Klineferter's

Primary prevention of late effects of chemical substances

 * 1) genotoxic activity testing – new genotoxic substances are prevented from entering the environment
 * 2) environmental monitoring - detection of genotoxic substances in the environment (chemical methods, Ames test)
 * 3) exposure monitoring – detection of genotoxic substances and their metabolites in the human body
 * 4) monitoring of the biological effect – monitoring the reaction of the organism to the action of genotoxically active substances (genetic toxicology, immunological, biochemical methods)
 * 5) monitoring the occurrence of genetically determined defects

Source

 * ws:Genotoxické látky

Related Articles

 * Toxicogenetics