THE GENETIC TOXICITY OF SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS .2. A PYRETHROID INSECTICIDE, FENPROPATHRIN

The detection of many synthetic chemicals used in industry that may po se a genetic hazard in our environment is subject of great concern at present. In this respect, the genetic toxicity of fenpropathrin S)-alp ha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl-2,2,3,3-tetramethyl cyclopropane carboxylate, CAS No.: 39515-41-8), a pyrethroid insecticide, was evaluated in bact erial gene mutation system, chromosome aberration in mammalian cell sy stem and in vivo micronucleus assay with rodents. In bacterial gene mu tation assay, no mutagenicity of fenpropathrin (62-5000 mu g/plate) wa s observed in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, 100, 1535 and 1537 both in the absence and in the presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. I n mammalian cell system using chinese hamster lung fibroblast, no clas togenicity of fenpropathrin was also observed both in the absence and in the presence of metabolic activation system in the concentration ra nge of 7-28 mu g/ml. And also, in vivo micronucleus assay using mouse bone marrow cells, fenpropathrin also revealed no mutagenic potential in the dose range of 27-105 mg/kg body weight of fenpropathrin (i.p.). Consequently, no mutagenic potential of fenpropathrin was observed in vitro bacterial, mammalian mutagenicity systems and in vivo micronucl eus assay in the dose ranges used in this experiment.