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Title: Arsenite as the probable active species in the human carcinogenicity of arsenic: Mouse micronucleus assays on Na and K arsenite, orpiment, and Fowler's solution

Journal Article · · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9195205· OSTI ID:5308246
;  [1];  [2]
  1. ICI Central Toxicology Lab., Cheshire (United Kingdom)
  2. ICI Colors and Fine Chemicals, Lancashire (United Kingdom)

Sodium arsenite, potassium arsenite, and Fowler's solution (arsenic trioxide dissolved in potassium bicarbonate) are equally active in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay ({approximately} 10 mg/kg by IP injection). The natural ore orpiment (principally As{sub 2}S{sub 3}) was inactive despite blood levels of arsenic of 300 to 900 mg/mL in treated mice at 24 hr. Sodium arsenite was active in three strains of mice. It is suggested that the human lung cancer observed among arsenic ore smelters and the skin cancer among people exposed therapeutically to Fowler's solution, have, as their common origin, the genotoxic arsenite ion AsO{sub 2}{sup {minus}}. The difficulty experienced when attempting to demonstrate rodent carcinogenicity for derivatives of arsenic suggests that the bone marrow micronucleus assay may act as a useful assay for potentially carcinogenic arsenic derivatives.

OSTI ID:
5308246
Journal Information:
Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Vol. 95; ISSN 0091-6765
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English