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TOXICITY AND MUTAGENICITY OF A MIXTURE OF 25 CHEMICALS FOUND IN CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER
Citation:
Shelby, M., R. Tice, D.M. DeMarini, AND R. Yang. TOXICITY AND MUTAGENICITY OF A MIXTURE OF 25 CHEMICALS FOUND IN CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-89/160 (NTIS PB90117284), 1989.
Description:
A defined mixture of 25 chemicals that are often found in contaminated ground water was prepared as a water solution and studied for mutagenicity in bacteria, for prophage induction in bacteria, for palatability and effect on weight-gain in rats and mice, and for cytogenetic effects in bone marrow cells of rats and mice. hese studies were carried out as an approach to assessing the health hazards associated with exposure to contaminated drinking water. n vitro tests for bacterial mutations and prophage induction were negative. wo-week exposure to the 25-chemical mixture in drinking water resulted in a concentration-related decrease in water consumption in make and female rats and mice. oncentration-related decreases in weight gain were observed in male and female mice; in rats, only the high dose groups showed decreased weight gains. he cytogenetic studies showed a small but significant increase in SCE in male mice and a similar weak effect on micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrows of males and females. lso in bone marrow of male and female mice, an increase in mitotic index and a decrease in average cell generation time was observed. he %PCE in bone marrow were decreased in female mice only, while the %PCE in peripheral blood was increased In both sexes. n rats, the only effects observed in the cytogenetic studies were increased PCE frequencies in the peripheral blood of males and in the bone marrow of males and females. hese results indicate that the 25-chemical mixture studies is not genotoxic in bacteria and that there is a concentration-dependent effect on its palatability to rodents that leads to reduced water consumption, food consumption and weight gain. lthough these latter effects may be associated with disruptions of normal erythropoiesis that may, in turn, alter the cytogenetic endpoints reported, evaluations of SCE and MN-PCE in mice suggest the 25-chemical mixture, under the conditions of administration, leads to cytogenetic damage in the bone marrow. Such damage is considered a reasonable Indication of potential health hazard.
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TOXICITY AND MUTAGENICITY OF A MIXTURE OF 25 CHEMICALS FOUND IN CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER