Genotoxic activity detected in soils from a hazardous waste site by the Ames test and an SOS colorimetric test

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/em.2850220210· OSTI ID:5952710

McDaniels, A E; Reyes, A L; Wymer, L J; Rankin, C C; Stelma, Jr, G N ^[1]

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1. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (United States)

Ten soil samples from a hazardous waste site were compared for their genotoxic activity by the Ames test (Salmonella reverse mutation assay) and a modified SOS colorimetric test. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons known to produce frameshift mutations were found in high levels in the soils. Salmonella typhimurium TA98, sensitive to frameshift mutations, was selected as the Ames tester strain. Escherichia coli K12 PQ37 (sulA::lacZ) was the SOS tester strain. Organic extracts were prepared from the soil samples by Soxhlet extraction. One set of the soil samples was extracted with methylene chloride and a second set with cyclohexane. Two criteria from reproducible dose-related increases in response to the soil were used to compare the positive responses: 1. the concentrations required for doubling responses and 2. a minimum concentration required to produce statistically significant increases from background controls. Analysis of variance indicated that with S9 mix, Ames and SOS results were similar for the same soils and solvent extractions. However, without S9 mix, the SOS test was significantly more sensitive than the Ames test to the genotoxins extracted from the soils. Both the Ames and SOS tests detected lower concentrations of genotoxins in methylene chloride than in cyclohexane extracts. The simplicity of the method, reduction in expenses, and results within 1 working day all contribute to the advantages of the SOS test.

• OSTI ID: 5952710
• Journal Information: Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis; (United States) Vol. 22:2; ISSN EMMUEG; ISSN 0893-6692
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550400 -- Genetics
550700* -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ALKANES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGY
BODY
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CLONING
CONTAMINATION
CYCLOALKANES
CYCLOHEXANE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ESCHERICHIA COLI
GENETICS
GLANDS
HYDROCARBONS
LIVER
MAMMALS
METHYLENE CHLORIDE
MICROORGANISMS
MICROSOMES
MUTAGENESIS
MUTAGENS
MUTATIONS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RATS
RIBOSOMES
RODENTS
SALMONELLA
SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM
SOILS
SPECTROSCOPY
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES