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MUTAGENESIS SCREENING OF PESTICIDES 'DROSOPHILA'
Citation:
Valencia, R. MUTAGENESIS SCREENING OF PESTICIDES 'DROSOPHILA'. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/1-81/017 (NTIS PB81160848), 1981.
Description:
Drosophila melanogaster males were exposed by feeding (plus contact and possibly inhalation). The genetic test found most sensitive and appropriate was the sex-linked recessive lethal test. For this, males of the Canton-S wild type stock were exposed. They were mated individually and brooded to sample the entire range of germ cell development stages. Very large number of tests (over 7000 were accumulated for each compound in two or more replicate experiments. Concurrent negative controls were done with each, and positive controls were run occasionally. Thirty pesticides and seven other misellaneous compounds were tested and four reference mutagens were run through the system, some of the latter at a series of 'doses' (exposure concentrations). Of the pesticides which could be tested at adequate concentrations, 4 (Captan, Folpet, Bromacil and Simazine) were found to be weak mutagens. One (Cacodylic Acid) was questionable but called negative. The rest of the pesticides were sotoxic that only very low concentrations (0.1 - 5ppm) could be used (usually for a reduced exposure time), and those are not considered adequately tested, in view of results obtained with reference mutagens at these concentrations.