Chromosomal aberrancy in white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) collectedon abandoned coal strip mines, Oklahoma, USA

This study was undertaken to determine the genetic consequences to small ma mmals of long-term exposure to heavy metal pollution. A secondary goal was to continue the process of validation of chromosomal aberration analysis as an in situ biological monitoring tool. During the spring, summer, and fall of 1992, white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) were collected from four metal-polluted, abandoned coal strip mines and three uncontaminated referen ce sites in eastern Oklahoma, USA. Chromosomal aberrations were scored from standard bone marrow metaphase chromosome spreads. Seasonal differences we re detected for aberrant cells (cells containing one or more chromosomal le sions) per individual (p = 0.0004), but there were no differences among sit es or between sexes. Males and females were tested separately for lesions p er individual, and neither sex showed a significant difference among sites but both showed seasonal differences across sites. Finally, a chi-square an alysis showed that the difference between total lesions and aberrant cells was not significantly different among sites (p = 0.635), indicating that le sions were distributed among cells in approximately the same way among all sites.