Combined genotoxic effect of arsenic, cadmium, chromium and four polyaromatic hydrocarbons

The joint effects of organic and inorganic contaminants as beyond the binary mixtures have not been well characterised. In this study we evaluated the combined genotoxicity of mixtures of PAHs and heavy metal/loids containing benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), naphthalene (Nap), phenanthrene (Phe), pyrene (Pyr), As, Cd and Cr using the in-vitro micronucleus test in a human liver cell line (HepG2 cells). The activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by single and mixed PAHs was also measured. This study contributes to a better understanding of combined effects of mixtures containing both organic and inorganic contaminants for health risk assessment purposes. (author)