Mutagenic activity in groundwater in relation to mobilization of organic mutagens in soil.

In this study, the presence of mutagenic activity (Ames Salmonella-microsome assay) in different types of uncontaminated Dutch soils is demonstrated. The mutagenic activity can be mobilized by eluting the soils with organic solvents. The highest mutagenic activity was obtained using dimethylsulfoxide. It is also shown that the organic mutagens can be mobilized by percolating the soils with rain water, although this phenomenon is not always observed. Finally, the results of this study suggest that the organic mutagens found in groundwater may, at least in part, arise from mobilization of organic mutagens in soil by rain water.