MODIFYING ROLE OF TRACE-ELEMENTS ON THE MUTAGENICITY OF BENZO[A]PYRENE

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that is foun d in tobacco smoke and various environmental contaminants and has been shown to be carcinogenic and mutagenic in animal and cell culture stu dies, respectively. Research studies suggest that various nutritional factors such as the antioxidant vitamins and selenium are very promisi ng as potential anticarcinogenic agents. Moreover, some evidence exist s showing that both iron and germanium, at specific dosage levels, may possess antimutagenic potential. This study examined the influence of ferrous sulfate and germanium oxide, independently, upon the mutageni c potential of BaP in the Ames test. Four test strains of Salmonella t yphimurium were exposed to BaP (15 mu g/plate) in the presence of diff erent dosage levels of iron (0-1000 mu g/plate) and germanium (0-600 m u g/plate). In the case of iron, it was observed that, depending upon the strain tested, iron reduced BaP's mutagenicity. In strain TA98, th is was a significant effect at 100 mu g/plate and higher. In strains T A97a and TA100, iron concentrations had to reach 250 mu g/plate or hig her to produce significant effects. Iron was much less effective in re ducing BaP mutagenicity in strain TA102. In general, germanium was not as effective in reducing the mutagenic potential of BaP. Only in the case of the highest concentrations tested (400 and 600 mu g/plate) was any effect noted, and this in only three of the four strains evaluate d.