Mutagenicity of Pesticides

Summary

Microbial mutagenicity screening studies employing Ames tests were done on 228 pesticides. As a result, 50 compounds showed mutagenicity and five of them required metabolic activation for their activities. Among the various compound groups, organic phosphates, halogenated alkanes and dithiocarbamates contained mutagens at a higher ratio. Mutagenicity of these pesticides was less potent than that of other mutagens. Cytogenetic studies on the pesticides which were positive in microbial assays revealed a good correlation between the ability to induce sister chromatid exchanges or chromosomal aberrations and the mutagenic potency in bacteria. Dominant lethal studies on 1, 2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) and ethylene dibromide (EDB) disclosed that DBCP gave positive results in rats but not in mice, although EDB was negative in both species. DBCP was also positive in a sex-linked recessive lethal test using Drosophila melanogaster. Occupational exposure to pesticides, especially gaseous ones like DBCP, in industry or in agriculture seems hazardous from the genetic toxicological point of view.