Mutagenic evaluation of the organophosphorus insecticides methyl parathion and triazophos in Drosophila melanogaster.

The possible genotoxic effects of the organophosphorus insecticides methyl parathion and triazophos were evaluated by their ability to induce gene and chromosome mutations in male germ cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Sex-linked recessive lethal (SLRL), total and partial sex-chromosome losses (SCL), and non-disjunction (ND) assays were conducted. The routes of administration included adult feeding, injection, and larval feeding. Methyl parathion was unable to induce point mutations or chromosome mutations, although a small increase in the frequency of non-disjunction was detected after larval treatment. Triazophos induced point mutations when assayed in the SLRL test and induced a weak increase in the non-disjunction frequency, but gave negative results in the SCL test.