Evaluation of the amplitude of cytogenetic damage induced by two food additives in wheat

Sulfites and metabisulfites, nitrates and nitrites are among the most utilized food additives. They can determine negative reactions in human body, but some of them showed genotoxic and carcinogenic action in various test-systems. In this study, we analyzed the amplitude of the cytogenetic changes induced by the exposure to different concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%) of sodium nitrate (E251; SN) and sodium metabisulfite (E223; SMB) in wheat root tips meristems, by scoring the mitotic index and the frequency of division phases, the rates of ana-telophase chromosome aberrations, and of metaphase disturbances. Also, the influence on plantlet length was analyzed in young plantlets. The two chemicals increased the amount of chromosome aberrations, depending on concentration and time exposure.