Mutagenicity of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic compounds.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Toxicology
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Catalytic chlorination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) generates complex isomer mixtures.
• These mixtures resemble compounds found in radioactive waste incineration fly ash.
• Understanding the properties of chlorinated PAHs is crucial for environmental and health risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and characterize chlorination mixtures of chrysene, pyrene, and fluoranthene.
• To compare the toxic and mutagenic effects of these chlorinated PAH mixtures with their parent hydrocarbons.

Main Methods:

• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for analysis and characterization.
• The microtiter fluctuation test with Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 was employed to assess mutagenicity.
• Tests were conducted at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 microgram/ml.

Main Results:

• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and comparison with methyl analogs could not determine the exact position of chlorosubstituents.
• No significant toxic effects were observed for the chlorinated PAH mixtures.
• Chlorinated products exhibited strong mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strains, even without enzymatic activation, indicating both frameshift mutations and base pair alterations.

Conclusions:

• Catalytic chlorination of PAHs yields complex isomer mixtures with significant mutagenic potential.
• Chlorinated PAHs are potent mutagens, inducing both frameshift and base pair alterations in bacterial test systems.
• The study highlights the need for further investigation into the environmental fate and toxicological profiles of chlorinated PAHs.