STUDY OF LEAD ACETATE GENOTOXICITY USING THE MICRONUCLEUS TEST IN MICE

Genotoxicological characterization of lead acetate using the micronucl eus test on BALB/c mice showed that the examined doses (50, 250 and 50 0 mg/kg body mass) induced a relatively large number of micronucleuses (8.8+/-2.17, 9.51+/-2.07, and 9.2+/-2.28) in polychromatophilic eryth rocytes of the bone marrow. These values are statistically highly sign ificant (P<0.001) in comparison with the number of spontaneous micronu cleuses (1.4+/-0.89) in mice inoculated with physiological saline solu tion. Considering the significant genotoxic potential of lead acetate, it is necessary to implement measures and procedures to prevent the e xposure of animals and humans to lead compounds.