Detection of mutagenic pollutants of inland and coastal waters by means of the Salmonella/microsome assay

A list of 116 water pollutants was prepared in order to tentatively identify some components criticaI for the activity of water concentrates in the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test. Data are also reported concerning the recovery of alachlor, atrazine, benzo(a)pyrene, chlorodibromomethane and metolachlor from the aqueous phase by means of reverse osmosis and XAD-2 apolar resin extraction. Chemical analyses showed a consistent even though variable recovery of reference chemicals added to water samples at dose-range of 200-0.5 µgL-1 and concentrated by means of the two procedures. Despite the significant recoveries of selected pollutants, the XAD-2 concentrates of several fresh water and sea water samples showed irregular and weak mutagenic effects on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA1OO strains, both in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. The mutagenicity data suggest therefore an insufficient sensitivity of the Ames test and the need of additional end-points of mutagenicity (such as the induction of chromosomal alterations) in the monitoring of mutagenic effects of water concentrates.