Paramecium tetraurelia pre-screen for hazardous chemicals: a rapid detector system for health hazards. 1977-1983 report

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6452040

Smith-Sonneborn, J

The purpose was to develop and validate a new eukaryotic bioassay system applicable to rapid identification of environmental toxins, mutagens, and carcinogens. The ability of Paramecium to detect potential health hazards, associated with complex environmental mixtures, was demonstrated in association with the finest coal fly ash particles and aqueous waste streams from both oil shale and coal gasification developing technologies. In Paramecium, the cytotoxicity of an agent was determined by altering the survival and/or growth rate of single cells in test agents. Genotoxicity was assayed by a two-tiered approach, utilizing both the Paramecium system and the more established Ames Salmonella assay for mutagen/carcinogen detection. An agent was considered genotoxic in Paramwecium if altered phenotypes were induced in the fertilization progeny of treated parent cells. Since others had shown a significant correlation between agents which were photodynamically active in Paramecium and carcinogenic in mammals, the photodynamic activity versus carcinogenicity of agents was reviewed. Photodynamically active compounds are defined by the immobilization of cells when exposed to both the test agent and black light; neither the agent alone nor light alone affects swimming activity.

• Research Organization: Wyoming Univ., Laramie (USA). Dept. of Zoology and Physiology
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77EV04477
• OSTI ID: 6452040
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV/04477-T4; ON: DE83007261
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560302* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOL WASTES
ANIMALS
ASHES
BIOASSAY
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARCINOGEN SCREENING
CILIATA
COAL
ENERGY SOURCES
FLY ASH
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INVERTEBRATES
LIQUID WASTES
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
MUTAGEN SCREENING
OIL SHALES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARAMECIUM
PROTOZOA
RESIDUES
SCREENING
TOXICITY
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER