DNA-ADDUCTS IN EARTHWORMS EXPOSED TO A CONTAMINATED SOIL

DNA adducts were quantified by P-32-postlabelling on the earthworm Eis enia fetida after an exposure to a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PA H)-contaminated soil sample. The pattern of adduct spots found on the chromatograms are consistent with the presence of bulky DNA adducts or iginating from PAH metabolites. After 1 or 2 weeks of exposure, amount s of DNA adducts in exposed worms (34.4 and 31.3 adducts per 10(9) nuc leotides, respectively) were higher than those found in the unexposed control worms (16.5 adducts per 10(9) nucleotides). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.