THE INFLUENCE OF SEDIMENT EXTRACT FRACTIONATION METHODS ON BIOASSAY RESULTS

Four bioassays [Microtox(TM), Mutatox(TM), sister chromatid exchange ( SCE), and metabolic cooperation] were used to analyze marine sediment extracts fractionated by two different methods: silica gel column chro matography and acid-base fractionation. Results indicated that a sedim ent extract fractionated with different methods can lead to different conclusions about the same sediment. This research also further evalua ted the new, mutagenic, bacterial bioassay Mutatox. Mutatox generally correlated with SCE and the Salmonella typhimurium assays. This rapid, operationally simple bioassay has potential as a screening bioassay t o detect genotoxic agents. (C) 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.