Urinary screening for potentially genotoxic exposures in a chemical industry.
Mutagenic activity, measured by the bacterial fluctuation assay and thioether concentration in urine from workers at a chemical plant producing pharmaceuticals and explosives, was determined before and after exposure. Of 12 groups only those exposed to trinitrotoluene (n = 14) showed a significant increase in mutagenic activity using Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 without any exogenous metabolic system. The same strain responded only weakly when the S-9 mix was used; with Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA no effect of exposure was observed. Urinary thioether concentration was higher among smokers than among non-smokers, but occupational exposure had no effect. Urinary mutagenicity testing may be a useful tool for screening potentially genotoxic exposures in complex chemical environments.
D002617:Chemical Industry; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000652:urine*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium; D012907:Smoking; D013440:Sulfides / Q000652:urine; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000009:adverse effects
D009153:Mutagens; D013440:Sulfides; D014303:Trinitrotoluene; D003404:Creatinine