[Mutagen activity of barium chloride in Salmonella typhimurium]

Barium chloride, which is an important industrial chemical used in pigments, lacquers, dyes, glass and pesticide production, leather tanning and cloth dying, was tested on Salmonella typhimurium (TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 1538, TA 97, TA 98, TA 100) with the reverse mutation test, with and without metabolic activation, to assess its possible genotoxic effects and any possible action with respect to standard mutagens (sodium azide, 9-aminoacridine, 2-nitrofluorene, mitomycine-C, 2 aminoacridine). Using the platelet incorporation technique, barium chloride at various progressive concentrations gave negative results under the experimental conditions of the study.