Mutagenicity and metabolism of vinyl chloride and related compounds.

The various adverse biological effects of vinyl chloride appear to be dependent upon the metabolic conversion of this compound into chemically reactive metabolites. The metabolism of vinyl chloride in mammals and in man, including the formation of monochloroacetic acid and some identified sulfur conjugates is reviewed. Hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidases from rats, mice, and humans were equally effective in transforming vinyl chloride into alkylating agents in vitro. Two of the enzyme reaction products, i.e., chloroethylene oxide and 2-chloroacetaldehyde, showed potent genetic activity in microorganisms and Chinese hamster V79 cells. The role of liver microsomal enzymes in the generation of electrophilic mutagenic vinyl chloride metabolites is discussed.