The potential mutagenic effect of the new
organophosphate insecticide and
acaricide,
pyridathion, was tested on Escherichia coli, strains WP2, WP2 uvrA, and on Salmonella typhimurium, strains TA100 and TA98, both with and without metabolic activation. The compound was tested at 1, 10 and 100 micrograms/ml. The analysis of
chromosomal aberrations in mouse bone marrow was performed after a single peroral application of
pyridathion at doses of 0.6, 1.11, 6.0, 12.0 and 24.0 mg . kg-1 b.w., i.p. application at 6.0 mg . kg-1 b.w., and repeated application (5 times) p.o. at 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg . kg-1 b.w. Analysis of rat bone marrow was performed after a 3-month peroral application of
pyridathion at 0.07, 0.175 and 0.35 mg . kg-1 b.w. An analysis of
chromosomal aberrations in human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro was performed 24 h after the application of
pyridathion into the culture in concentrations of 9.2 X 10(-3), 9.2 X 10(-4) and 9.2 X 10(-5) moles. The
insecticide did not exert any mutagenic effect on the bacteria. There was no significant increase in the frequency of
chromosomal abnormalities in bone marrow of mice of rats, or in human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro, compared with controls.