In vitro toxicity evaluation of low doses of pesticides in individual and mixed condition on human keratinocyte cell line

The induced toxicity of three pesticides (alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane: α-HCH; Parathion methyl:PM; Carbofuran: CN) in single and four possible combination on human keratinocyte cell line have been investigated. There was no significant change in toxicity (cyto and genotoxicity) on cell line exposed by individual pesticides except α-HCH. But, a synergistic effect was observed when we tested mixture of pesticides. The intracellular ROS and cytotoxicity assay revealed maximum reduction in cell viability (60%) was found in tri mixture of pesticides. All the possible combination of these pesticides demonstrated genotoxic activity in terms of olive tail moment and % tail DNA on cell line at low concentration. The order of toxicity was ranked as α-HCH+PM+CN>α- HCH+CN>PM+CN>α-HCH+PM. Our results call for more research to be undertaken in order to understand the mechanisms behind the synergy observed and quantify the extent of its environmental impacts.