title: Detection of mutagens in water-distribution systems after disinfection.
abstract: This research examined the quality of water-before and after distribution-of four drinking-water production plants located in Northern Italy, two of which collected water from local aquifers and two from the River Po. A battery of genotoxicity assays for monitoring drinking-water was performed to assess the quality of the water produced by the treatment plants under study. Three different sampling stations were selected at each plant, one right at the outlet of the treatment plant and two along with the distribution pipelines. Raw river water was also sampled and analysed as a control. The water samples (500 l) were concentrated on silica C18 cartridges and the extracts were tested in in vitro mutagenicity assays (Salmonella/microsome assay with strains TA 98 and TA 100; SOS Chromotest with Escherichia coli strain PQ37); gene conversion, point mutation and mitochondrial DNA mutability assays with the diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D7 and a toxicity test using the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri (Microtox). The Microtox test and the mitochondrial DNA mutability assay showed the greatest sensitivity towards toxic or mutagenic substances in the water extracts considered. The results show that this battery of short-term tests is applicable in the routine monitoring of drinking-water quality before and after distribution.
authors.affiliation: Water Research Institute-National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), via della Mornera 25, 20047 Brugherio, Milan, Italy. guzzella@irsa.cnr.it
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guzzella
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Caterino
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monarca
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zani
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feretti
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zerbini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buschini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D007558:Italy; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D009153:Mutagens; D014867:Water