Studies in bacteria
In a modified Ames test, 10, 100, and 1000 mg/litre
of an aqueous extract from chlorine dioxide gas sterilization of a medical
device was tested against Salmonella typhimurium TA1535 only, with and without S9 (Jeng & Woodworth, 1990). A negative
result was obtained, although there are considerable doubts about whether
or not the extract tested contained any chlorine dioxide.
The same authors (Jeng & Woodworth, 1990) performed another Ames test
again using only TA1535 apparently against 10, 100, and 1000 mg chlorine
dioxide gas/litre with and without metabolic activation. No further details
of the techniques used were reported, and, although a negative result was
claimed, no details were recorded.
In vitro studies in mammalian systems
In an unpublished but well conducted in vitro cytogenetics assay, Chinese hamster ovary cells were treated with 0, 2.5,
5, 10, 15, 30, or 60 Κg 0.2% chlorine dioxide/ml in phosphate-buffered
saline solution in the absence of metabolic activation and 0, 6, 13, 25,
50, or 75 Κg/ml in the presence of metabolic activation (Ivett & Myhr,
1986). Cell toxicity was observed at 60 Κg/ml (-S9), and there was an
absence of mitotic cells at 30 Κg/ml. At 2.5-15 Κg/ml, there was
a marked dose-related, statistically significant increase in the number
of metaphases with chromosome aberrations. In the presence of metabolic
activation, cell toxicity and an absence of mitotic cells were observed
at 75 Κg/ml. A statistically significant increase in the number of metaphases
with chromosome aberrations was noted at 50 Κg/ml.
In a mouse lymphoma forward mutation assay using the L5178Y TK+/? system, cells were treated with 0-65 Κg chlorine dioxide/ml in phosphate-buffered
saline in the presence and absence of metabolic activation (Cifone &
Myhr, 1986). In the absence of metabolic activation, marked toxicity was
observed at the highest concentration used, 37 Κg/ml. The relative growth
(compared with control cultures) at the next two concentrations (15 and
24 Κg/ml) was 13?18%. There was a dose-related increase in mutant frequency.
Similarly, in the presence of metabolic activation, marked toxicity was
observed at the highest concentration, 65 Κg/ml, and there was also a
dose-related increase in mutant frequency, indicating positive results
both with and without metabolic activation in this test system.
An unpublished in vitro cell transformation assay is available in which BALB/3T3 cells were administered
0?6 Κg aqueous chlorine dioxide/ml (Rundell & Myhr, 1986). The frequency
of transformed foci was within the range of spontaneous transformations
observed in historical controls, indicating a negative result.
In vivo studies in mammalian systems
In a bone marrow cytogenetics assay, groups of five male and
five female CD-1 mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of approximately
0, 2, 5, or 15 mg aqueous chlorine dioxide/kg body weight (Ivett &
Myhr, 1984a). Bone marrow cells were analysed for chromosome aberrations
at 6, 24, and 48 h. There were no clear effects on the mitotic index, but
two males receiving approximately 15 mg chlorine dioxide/kg body weight
died, and other signs of toxicity (poor grooming) were also observed at
the highest dose level. There were no increases in the frequency of chromosome
aberrations among treated animals at any of the sacrifice times when compared
with controls.
Groups of five male and five female CD-1 mice received five daily oral
gavage doses of approximately 0, 5, 10, or 20 mg aqueous chlorine dioxide/kg
body weight (Meier et al., 1985). Animals were killed 6 h after the last administration, and 1000
polychromatic erythrocytes from the bone marrow of each animal were analysed
for micronucleus formation. In addition, groups of four male and four female
CD-1 mice were used for analysis of chromosome aberrations from bone marrow
samples. Animals were exposed to the same doses as above, either as a single
administration or using a repeated-exposure regime. Following single exposure,
animals were killed at 6, 24, and 48 h post-administration and 50 metaphase
cells taken from the bone marrow of each animal for analysis of chromosome
aberrations. A negative result was obtained for micronucleus formation,
and there were no increases in the number of structural or numerical chromosome
aberrations (including an assessment of hyperploidy and polyploidy). Apparently,
there were no overt signs of general toxicity.
Groups of five male ICR mice received a single intraperitoneal injection
of approximately 0, 9, 21, 28, or 39 mg aqueous chlorine dioxide/kg body
weight (Ivett & Myhr, 1984b). Following subcutaneous implantation of
bromodeoxyuridine and 26 h after chlorine dioxide administration, approximately
25 bone marrow metaphase cells from each animal were assessed for sister
chromatid exchange. Shortly after administration of aqueous chlorine dioxide,
all animals showed hyperactive behaviour. There were no significant increases
in sister chromatid exchange among any of the chlorine dioxide-treated
groups.
Studies in germ cells
The only study available (an unpublished dominant lethal assay
in rats; Moore & Myhr, 1984) employed the intraperitoneal route of
administration using up to 20 mg aqueous chlorine dioxide/kg body weight.
This study did not show any mutagenic effects on male germ cells, and the
result does provide some reassurance, in that even at levels affecting
fertility and producing mortality, no evidence of mutagenic activity is
seen. However, in addition, the results of in vivo mutagenicity studies conducted using this exposure route showed
no evidence for effects in the bone marrow; hence, effects in the germ cells
would not be expected.
Other studies
Positive results for chlorine dioxide were claimed in various test systems (e.g., Ames test, in vitro cytogenetics, in vivo bone marrow
micronucleus, in vivo chromosome aberrations). However, in general, the conduct of these tests
was poorly described, and it has subsequently emerged that aqueous sodium
chlorite solutions were tested rather than chlorine dioxide (Ishidate et al., 1984; Hayashi et al., 1988; Fujie & Aoki, 1989).
References
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