AMPHIBIAN MICRONUCLEUS TEST IN-VIVO - EVALUATION OF THE GENOTOXICITY OF SOME MAJOR POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS FOUND IN A CRUDE-OIL

The micronucleus test using erythrocytes of Pleurodeles waltl larvae ( Amphibia, Salamandridae) was used to detect the possible genotoxicity of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, anthracene, phe nanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene), which represent a major fraction of cru de oil. Larvae were reared in water containing the test compound and t he levels of micronucleated red blood cells were compared with those f ound in larvae reared in control water. The results are compared with published data from other tests used to evaluate the clastogenic or mu tagenic properties of compounds. The results obtained confirm that ben zo[a]pyrene has a strong genotoxic potential, whereas the genotoxicity of naphthalene is weak; in contrast, anthracene and phenanthrene gave a negative response.