title: Presentation of benzo(a)pyrene to microsomal enzymes by asbestos fibers in the Salmonella/mammalian microsome mutagenicity test.
abstract: The potential effect of asbestos fibers on mutagenicity of benzo(a)pyrene was investigated by using the Ames test. Asbestos fibers without a coating of benzo(a)pyrene or benzo(a)pyrene when not dissolved in DMSO lacked any mutagenic effect in the Salmonella/mammalian microsome mutagenicity test. However, when benzo(a)pyrene was adsorbed onto asbestos, significant numbers of mutated bacteria were observed. This shows that asbestos fibers can serve a carrier role presenting benzo(a)pyrene to the enzymatic microsomal system, thus enhancing mutagenicity of this compound.
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D001194:Asbestos / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D001580:Benzopyrenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001580:Benzopyrenes; D001194:Asbestos; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene