The mutagenicity of the drinking water from 16 districts of Moscow was
investigated by analyzing of chromosome aberrations induced in cells
of Crepis capilaris seeds used as a plant test system. Cytogenetic ana
lysis revealed mutagenic activity in drinking water samples from four
administrative regions, namely the Biryulevo-Zapadnoe district of Sout
hern region (2.4%), Obruchevskii district of the Southwestern region (
1.6%), Severnoe Tushino district of the Northwestern region (1.45%), a
nd Perovo district of the Western region (1.18%). The frequency of chr
omosome aberrations found was significantly higher than in the spontan
eous control (0.37%). Mutagenic activity was not detected in water sam
ples taken from the Moscow oblast and from four open reservoirs.