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[Comparative study of the mutagenic activity of organophosphate insecticides on bacteria]
Abstract:
Mutagenic activity of the organo-phosphorus insecticides, metaphos, phosphamide and carbophos, on indicator Salmonella typhimurium TA-1535 strain is shown which is determined without metabolic activation. It is established that all the three preparations induce direct mutations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The quantity of visible mutations increases with the prolongation of exposure time and the insecticide concentration. Metaphos and phosphamide induced auxotrophic mutations. Phosphamide has the highest mutagenic activity in the assays with bacterial systems.
Insights
Organo-phosphorus insecticides like metaphos, phosphamide, and carbophos show mutagenic activity in bacterial systems. Phosphamide exhibited the highest mutagenic potential, inducing direct and auxotrophic mutations without metabolic activation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Organo-phosphorus insecticides are widely used in agriculture.
- Assessing the genotoxicity of these compounds is crucial for environmental and human health risk assessment.
- Bacterial mutagenicity assays are standard tools for initial genotoxicity screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the mutagenic activity of three organo-phosphorus insecticides: metaphos, phosphamide, and carbophos.
- To determine if these insecticides induce direct and/or auxotrophic mutations in bacterial strains.
- To compare the relative mutagenic potency of the tested insecticides.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial mutagenicity assays were performed using Salmonella typhimurium TA-1535 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Mutagenic activity was assessed without the need for metabolic activation.
- Exposure time and insecticide concentration were varied to observe dose- and time-dependent effects.
Main Results:
- All three tested organo-phosphorus insecticides demonstrated mutagenic activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Metaphos, phosphamide, and carbophos induced direct mutations in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.
- Metaphos and phosphamide were found to induce auxotrophic mutations, with phosphamide showing the highest overall mutagenic activity in these bacterial systems.
Conclusions:
- Organo-phosphorus insecticides metaphos, phosphamide, and carbophos possess mutagenic potential in bacterial assays.
- Phosphamide exhibits the strongest mutagenic activity among the tested compounds.
- These findings highlight the genotoxic risks associated with exposure to these specific organo-phosphorus insecticides.