In vivo genotoxic effects in mice of Metacid 50, an organophosphorus insecticide.

The genotoxic effect of methyl parathion, an organophosphorus insecticide commercially available as Metacid 50, was studied in Swiss albino mice using bone marrow and peripheral blood micronucleus tests. Single acute oral doses of the insecticide at concentrations of 75.0, 37.5, 18.75 and 9.375 mg/kg body weight, equivalent to 1/2 LD50, 1/4 LD50, 1/8 LD50 and 1/16 LD50, administered to female mice, elicited positive responses in bone marrow and peripheral blood micronuclei tests. Statistically significant increases in the frequency of micronuclei were observed at higher doses in both the tests performed. The data obtained for our experiments suggest that methyl parathion is a potent mutagen and so it is also likely to have a genotoxic effect in humans.