Mutagenicity of stable dust and drinking water on swine and cattle farms

Single pilot examinations of mutagenicity of stable dust and drinking water were made on three swine farms (D., M., T.) and one cattle farm (N.) in the district of Hodonín in summer 1994. The mutagenicity was examined by the Ames test using the indicator strains Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 with (+S9) or without (-S9) metabolic activation. At the same time the contents of selected pesticides (PES) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in stable dust and drinking water and that of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in stable dust were determined. Increased mutagenicity was demonstrated in drinking water (strain TA 98 with metabolic activation; index Rt/Rk 3.6-7.7) and stable dust (strain TA 100 with metabolic activation; index Rt/Rk 2.2) collected on the swine farm M. High contents of PAH (8.246 mg/kg) and PCB (0.263 mg/kg) were also found in the dust samples collected on this farm. Only drinking water showed mutagenic activity (strain TA 98 without metabolic activation; index Rt/Rk 2.6) on the swine farm D. On both the farms, the number of revertants was dose-dependent. Increased content of PAH (2.553 mg/kg) was also demonstrated on the dust samples collected on the farm D. No significant increase (twofold or higher when compared with negative controls) of mutagenic activity of stable dust or drinking water was demonstrable on the swine farm T. and the cattle farm N. Substances responsible for the mutagenicity of drinking water on the farms D. and M. have not yet been identified. Anyway, the increase of mutagenicity of stable dust and drinking water should be taken as a warning that mutagens that can jeopardise animal and human health have penetrated into the stable environment.