Systemic assessment of pesticide genotoxicity

Abstract

The genotoxicity of more than 200 technical grade active ingredients (TGAI) of pesticides has been studied. An algorithm for evaluating the equivalence of TGAIs to the original active ingredients upon the criterion of “mutagenicity” has been developed. The necessity of studying the genotoxic activity of the combinations of pesticide active ingredients was substantiated. Limitations of the genotoxicity tests due to toxicity of pesticides of different chemical classes have been established. The dependence of the erythropoiesis-inhibiting action of triazole pesticides on the structure of the active ingredient was revealed. The effects and the general mechanism of the carbendazim action on the processes of karyokinesis, extrusion of nuclei and cytokinesis in mammalian bone marrow erythroid cells were studied. The criteria for expert evaluation of pesticide mutagenicity have been developed.