Cytogenetic effects of alachlor and mancozeb

Abstract

The cytogenetic effects of 2 pesticides, alachlor and mancozeb, were determined in human lymphocytes in vitro and in rat bone-marrow cells in vivo. A dose-dependent increase of chromosomal aberration frequency was found, at concentrations of 1, 2, 4, 10, 20 and 40 μg/ml, for alachlor and mancozeb when administered during the last 24 h in 72-h human blood cultures. No increase in aberration yield as compared with that of controls was observed at the lowest concentrations of 1 and 2 μg/ml. A high level of heavily damaged cells, with despiralated, shattered and concomitantly separated chromatids was found at the highest concentration of 40 μg alachlor and mancozeb per ml. Doses of 1.25, 2.50 and 5 μg alachlor/g b.w. and of 2.5, 5 and 10 μg mancozeb/g b.w. were given to Wistar rats as a single injection for each dose. Bone-marrow cells for cytogenetic observations were gathered 24 h afterwards. All or almost all rats died within 2–4 h after the highest doses. Dose-related clastogenic effects were found for the 1.25 and 2.50 μg/g b.w. doses of alachlor and the 2.5 and 5 μg/g b.w. doses of mancozeb. Food containing alachlor and mancozeb, 200 ppm, was supplied to Wistar rats during 280 days at a daily intake of about 1.7 μg/g b.w. Chronic administration of mancozeb, but not alachlor, produced a significant level of chromosome damage.