[Genotoxic properties of 1,3-butadiene and its derivatives]

1,3-butadiene gas is widely used in manufacture of synthetic rubber and plastics. In groups of workers occupationally exposed to 1,3-butadiene secondary leukemia and lymphoma were observed. Quite frequently, in these groups combined exposure to other chemicals such as styrene and benzene was observed. Studies on bacteria suggest that 1,3-butadiene is an indirect mutagen whose mutagenic potency depends on metabolic activation. Mutagenic and carcinogenic properties of 1,3-butadiene were investigated on laboratory animals. The results have shown that 1,3-butadiene induced multiple organ cancer, as well as increase in SCE, chromosome aberrations and micronuclei in mice and rats. 1,3-butadiene and its metabolites produced an effect of growth inhibition, an increase in SCE and chromosomal aberrations in mammalian cells in vitro. Up till now is known about genotoxic and carcinogenic properties of 1,3-butadiene in humans.