Mechanism of the desmutagenic effect of humic acid

The mechanism of an apparent desmutagenic effect of humic acid was investigated. Firstly, components of humic acid (resorcinol, vanillin, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, protochatechuic acid and benzoic acid) were tested and were not found to show a desmutagenic effect. By contrast, lignin did show a desmutagenic effect. The desmutagenic effect of humic acid was decreased by ozone treatment, and the degree of decrease corresponded with a decrease in KMnO4 consumption. Benzo[a]pyrene and humic acid were incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 h and extracted by ethyl acetate and the extract was investigated by gas chromatography (GC). The peak of the decomposition product did not appear, but the amount of benzo[a]pyrene was decreased. This suggests that the desmutagenic effect of humic acid was caused by adsorption of benzo[a]pyrene by humic acid rather than by decomposition of benzo[a]pyrene. Humic acid had the largest adsorption activity at its critical micelle concentration (CMC), while adsorbed benzo[a]pyrene could be released by ultrasonication. Fulvic acid and water-soluble humic substance showed a slight inhibitory effect on the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene.