Application of micronucleus test and comet assay to evaluate BTEX biodegradation

► Effect of BTEX, prior and after biodegradation, evaluated in cultured mammalian cells. ► Biological assays are useful in evaluating the efficiency of bioremediation processes. ► Comet and MN assays were effective to evaluate damages on HTC cells exposed to BTEX. ► BTEX is potentially genotoxic and mutagenic to HTC cells. ► Biodegradation process of BTEX resulted into non-toxic metabolites to HTC cells.