Deleterious Effect of Cement Dust Pollution on Chromosomes and Free Amino Acids of Two Beetles, Blaps sulcata (Laporte) and Akis reflexa (Fabricius) in the Western-Coastal Desert of Egypt
*A.M. Kheirallah, M.L. Shonouda, C.A. Matta, H.O. Hashem and W. Osman
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Accepted on June 30, 2006
Abstract
This study was initiated to evaluate the effect of exposure to hazardous cement dust on the coleopterous insect, Blaps sulcata and Akis reflexa inhabiting the Maryout region of Egypt at two different sites using physicochemical and organic criteria. The expected anoxicity of cement dust site was evidenced by the elevated metal content and physicochemical parameters. Emerging evidence suggests that insects respond differently according to environmental stress index in each site. Cement dust caused structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations and induced significant increase in abnormal metaphases. It changed free amino acids (FAAs) concentrations in the whole body homogenate of both sexes of the two insects. Almost all the FAAs were sensitive to cement dust pollution. Most recorded changes were increase in FAAs concentrations rather than a decrease.