Mutagenicity of Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate in mammalian gonad and bone marrow tissue

The mutagenic and clastogenic (chromosome breaking) effects of the flame retardant Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (Tris-BP) were investigated in two mammalian in vivo assays, the bone marrow micronucleus test and the abnormal sperm head assay. Two potency of Tris-BP was determined in the Salmonella-mammalian microsome assay. Tris-BP was mutagenic in all three assays, in both mammalian tests, nearly toxic doses were required in B6C3F mice for positive mutagenic and clastogenic results. In the micronucleus test, Tris-BP was a weak clastogen, whereas in the abnormal sperm head assay, Tris-BP was observed to be strongly mutagenic. The abnormal sperm head data might imply genetic damage to germ tissue. The data suggested a means for possibly monitoring Tris-BP exposure. Thus besides being a strong mutagen on bacterial systems, Tris-BP was also a weak clastogen as detected in bone marrow cells and was a mutagen to gonad tissue.