Evaluation of antioxidant enzymes performances and DNA damage induced by bisphenol A and diisobutylphthalate in Hyperiodrilus africanus-earthworms

Abstract Background Bisphenol A (BPA) and diisobuthylphthalate (DIBP) have found wide applications as plasticizers; however, they are covalently bonded to materials and are subsequently leached into the environment. Methods This study evaluated the effects of BPA, DIBP and mixtures of BPA and DIBP on the antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD)] activities using standard methods and DNA profile of earthworm (Hyperiodrilus africanus) using randomly amplified polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) method. A total of 2 kg soil samples collected from FADAMA Farm, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta were spiked to obtain 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 ppm of BPA, DIBP and mixtures of BPA and DIBP. Earthworms were exposed to the unpolluted and spiked soil samples and were collected on the 7th and 14th day for SOD, POD and DNA analysis. Results SOD activity was more pronounced at 5 and 10 ppm concentrations. POD activity was increased in all concentrations, including the control, meanwhile POD activity induced by BPA and DIBP was significantly higher (p  Conclusions This study established that antioxidant activity decreases with exposure time to BPA and DIBP, while DNA damage increases with exposure time.