Evaluation of Thimet 10-G for mutagenicity by 4 different genetic systems.

The insecticide Thimet 10-G was tested for mutagenic activity by 4 different genetic systems. It was unable to induce gene mutation in Salmonella, transfection inhibition in Mycobacterium, micronuclei formation in mice, and sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) in human lymphocytes were evaluated. It caused in mice an increase in the ratio of normochromatic to polychromatic erythrocytes and in human lymphocytes a decrease in mitotic index and delay in cell cycle. The results indicate that the insecticide is not mutagenic in the 4 test systems used at present.