Mutagenic activity of nitriloacetic acid

Nitriloacetic acid (NTA) has been demonstrated to be unable to produce gene mutations in prokariotic and eukaryotic cells or chromosomal aberrations in cells grown in vitro, as well as in living animals. However, a very slight mutagenic activity has been found when Drosophila and higher plants were used. NIDA, a N-nitroso derivative of NTA, has been found negative on bacterial cells. It is known from the literature that NTA solubilizes some insoluble metal salts. This study attempted to further investigate the mutagenicity of NTA and NIDA and on the potential genotoxic effect of insoluble Cr(VI) salt when NTA was present. For this study the Ames test (5 strains), the tests on yeast for the induction of gene mutations and mitotic gene conversions, and the test for the induction of SCE in CHO cells have been employed. Preliminary results indicate that NTA and NIDA are not mutagenic in Salmonella and yeasts. When, however, a hexavalent Cr salt (insoluble) was assayed in the presence of NTA, the mixture was found positive on TA 98 and TA 100 Salmonella strains; this activity correlates positively with the amount of soluble Cr in the mixture. NTA, moreover, increases the induction of SCE on CHO cells induced normally by an insoluble Cr(VI) salt.