DNA damage and oxidative stress induced at low doses by the fungicide hexachlorobenzene in human intestinal Caco-2 cells.

Context: Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), a persistent chlorinated organic chemical, could be detected in human tissues in several countries of the world. Human exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) occurring primarily through diet, HCB and its metabolites are therefore supposed to interact directly with intestinal mucosa.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of low doses of HCB on DNA integrity, cellular viability, differentiation and oxidative status in vitro in human colonic carcinoma cell line Caco-2.