Project Experience: Genotoxicity and Ecotoxicity

A university research group from Canada needed to conduct testing on a novel nanofiber for genotoxicity and ecotoxicity.  EMSL is one of the few contract labs in North America with the capability of testing for genotoxicity, using the Ames test, and ecotoxicity, using the Microtox screening method. The Ames test was performed using two different strains of Salmonella (TA98 and TA100), one of which looked for frameshift mutations and the other strain looked for base-pair substitutions. The Microtox screening method assay is a biosensor-based measurement system that uses Vibrio fischeri (a fluorescing bacterium) for identification of toxicity in samples. In the completion of testing the nanofiber was observed to produce genotoxicity (frameshift mutations) and have ecotoxicity (EC50 13%).