Research Journal of Mutagenesis1994-7917xxxx-xxxxAsian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/rjmutag.2012.10.18Allium cepa Test]]>YahayaT. OkpuzorJ. EstherO. Oladele 1201221In this study, the mutagenesis of cement dust on plants and animals was investigated. The cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of cement dust was monitored using Allium cepa test model. Allium cepa grouped into 4 of 10 A. cepa per group, after taking their baselines, were exposed to cement dust over three different periods of time at about 100 m from a cement factory. The control group (group 1) was kept in an environment free of cement dust pollution, about 6 km from the cement factory. The test groups (groups 2-4) were exposed to the dust for 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks, respectively. The elemental analysis of the A. cepa in the test groups revealed significant (p<0.05) levels of calcium, silicon, aluminum, chromium and lead compared to the control group. Also, significant differences (p<0.05) exist among the levels of the elements detected in the A. cepa in various test groups. Furthermore, the mean root length growths and the relative growth rates of the test groups were higher than the control, but there was no statistical difference (p>0.05) among them. However, there was a direct linear relationship between the concentrations of calcium and root length growths of the A. cepa across the groups. Chromosomal aberrations observed in the test groups are stickiness, c-mitosis, chromosomal bridge, chromosome fragmentation, vagrant chromosomes, bi-nucleus chromosomes and multi-polar anaphase. No chromosomal aberration was observed in the control group. The total number of chromosomal aberrations increases significantly (p<0.05) with the length of exposure. The findings of the research highlight the toxicity of cement dust and the need for pollution control measures to safeguard plants and animals in the environment.]]>Abdullah,C.M. and M.Z. Iqbal,1991181196201Abimbola, A.F., O.O. Kehinde-Phillips and A.S. Olatunji,200729163167Ade-Ademilua, O.E. and D.A. Obalola,2008Celosia argentea (Lagos Spinach) plant.]]>14755Akinola, M.O., N.A. Okwok and T. Yahaya,2008Rattus norvegicus) around West African portland cement factory in Sagamu, Ogun state, Nigeria.]]>218Akpan, I.O., A.E. Amodu and A.E. Akpan,20114332339Balasubramanyam, A., N. Sailaja, M. Mahboob, M.F. Rahman, S.M. Hussain and P. Grover,2009In vivo genotoxicity assessment of aluminum oxide nanomaterials in rats peripheral blood cells using the comet assay and micronucleus test.]]>24245251Bilen, S.,2010424182425Calistus Jude, A.L., K. Sasikala, R. Ashok Kumar, S. Sudha and J. Raichel,200229599Colls, J.,20022nd Edn.,pp: 25pp: 25Davidovits, J.,19946263278Fiskesjo, G.,1988Allium test-an alternative in environmental studies: The relative toxicity of metal ions.]]>197243260Gbadebo, A.M. and O.D. Bankole,200773540Gupta, A.K. and R.M. Mishra,19941319Hansen, M.A.,19981998Heather, G.,2003Hepler, P.K.,20051721422155IARC,1990Vol. 49,pp: 256, 447-525pp: 256, 447-525IPC,19961996Iqbal, M.Z. and M. Shafiq,2001251924Koa, K.N.,19751975Krupa, S.V., G.C. Pratt and P.S. Teng,198266429434Meo, S.A.,20042511531159Mohammed, A.K. and A.B. Sambo,2008Oreochromis niloticus exposed to sublethal concentrations of portland cement powder in solution.]]>44852Mohanty, S., A.B. Das, P. Das and P. Mohanty,2004Oryza sativa L. Cv. Lalat.]]>597075Mossor-Pietraszewska, T.,200148673686Muangpha, P. and R. Gooneratne,2011Coelomocytes.]]>201117NTP,20092009Nigragau, J.O. and C.L. Davidson,1986Ogunbileje, J.O. and O.M. Akinosun,20115133140Sehgal, R., S. Roy and V.L. Kumar,2006Calotropis procera and Podophyllotoxin in Allium cepa root model.]]>30913Seyyednjad, S.M., K. Majdian, H. Koochak and M. Niknejad,20114300305Shanker, A.K., C. Cervantes, H. Loza-Tavera and S. Avudainayagam,200531739753TRF,20082008Tajudeen, Y. and J. Okpuzor,20115203212Tajudeen, Y., J. Okpuzor and A.T. Fausat,20114315325Zou, J.H., M. Wang, W.S. Jiang and D.H. Liu,2006Amaranthus viridis L.]]>38673681