Genotoxic properties of some organophosphate pesticides

Abstract

The genotoxicity of some organophosphate pesticides applied in agriculture was studied using the Ames test and the mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus test in vivo. Technical grade active ingredients (TGAI) of chlorpyrifos and diazinon did not show genotoxicity either in vitro or in vivo. The weak mutagenic effects of dimethoate were revealed with bacterial strains. Some TGAIs of glyphosate, dimethoate, and pyrimifos-methyl induced cytogenetic abnormalities in CD-1 mice. The observed effects in vivo were low even at the maximum tolerated doses. Therefore, according to the pesticide hygienic classification adopted in the Russian Federation all studied organophosphate pesticides can be assigned a 3 or 4 class of hazard upon the criterion “mutagenicity”.