CYTOTOXICITY AND MUTAGENICITY OF A 2,4,6-TRINITROTOLUENE (TNT) AND HEXOGEN CONTAMINATED SOIL IN SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM AND MAMMALIAN-CELLS

The toxicity and mutagenicity of aqueous and organic extracts of soil contaminated with TNT, TNT metabolites and hexogen was determined in m ammalian cell lines and in prokaryotic cells. The prokaryotic toxicity was determined via the colony forming ability of Salmonella typhimuri um (strains TA 98 and TA 100). The same strains were used to test muta genicity in the Ames test. The mammalian toxicity was analyzed in huma n fibroblasts by the inhibition of cell growth and cell viability (MTT assay). The mammalian mutagenicity was tested with the HPRT test in V 79 cells (hamster lung). The aqueous soil extract did not reveal toxic ity or mutagenicity in any of the tests performed. The DMSO/ethanol ex tract showed toxicity and mutagenicity in S. typhimurium. Thereby stra in TA 98 was more sensitive than strain TA 100. In human fibroblasts c ell growth was strongly inhibited, whereas no reduction of cell viabil ity was found in the MTT test. Mutagenicity of the DMSO/ethanol extrac t of the soil was demonstrated in V79 cells. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.