Alkaline comet assay in human biomonitoring studies by the Latin America / LA-COMET group

Technological and chemical advancements have heightened human exposure to synthetic and natural substances, necessitating precise toxicological assessments through sensitive biomarkers. The comet assay has emerged as a robust, minimally invasive tool for biomonitoring. This study reviews 64 articles published between 1997 and 2022 by the LA-COMET group-a collaborative network of 17 research teams across seven Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, and Uruguay). The analysis reveals that research primarily focuses on occupational and environmental exposures, specifically evaluating the impact of pesticides, heavy metals, organic solvents, and particulate matter. The assay proved highly effective in identifying genotoxic effects in exposed populations compared to reference groups, including vulnerable cohorts such as children, women, and patients with clinical conditions like breast cancer and malaria. To enhance future research rigor, this work utilizes and proposes standardized scoring systems, namely QSca (assay quality score) and hmQS (human monitoring quality score). Ultimately, this review underscores the comet assay's pivotal role in characterizing regional health risks and seeks to establish evidence-based practices to inform public health policies in Latin America.