Bioassay of environmental nickel dusts in a particle feeding ciliate

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Environ. Mutagen.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/em.2860080412· OSTI ID:5217332

Smith-Sonneborn, J; Leibovitz, B; Donathan, R; Fisher, G L

The ciliated protozoan Paramecium was used to quantitate cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of nickel particles. The biological response of these eukaryotic cells to pure nickel powder and iron-nickel powder was assayed and compared to the effect of the inorganic carcinogen nickel subsulfide. Cytotoxicity was determined by the percent survival of treated cells. Genotoxicity was indicated by significant increases in the fraction of nonviable offspring (presumed index of lethal mutations) found after self-fertilization (autogamy) in parents from the nickel-treated versus neutral control groups. The cells were exposed to the dusts and the biological effects determined. Only the nickel subsulfide consistently showed a significant increase in offspring lethality.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie
• OSTI ID: 5217332
• Journal Information: Environ. Mutagen.; (United States), Vol. 8:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
NICKEL
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
NICKEL SULFIDES
PARAMECIUM
MUTATION FREQUENCY
DUSTS
IRON COMPOUNDS
LETHAL MUTATIONS
MUTAGEN SCREENING
ANIMALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CILIATA
ELEMENTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MUTATIONS
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
PROTOZOA
SCREENING
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
560302* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Microorganisms- (-1987)