Dellarco V L, Generoso W M, Sega G A, Fowle J R, Jacobson-Kram D
Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460.
Environ Mol Mutagen. 1990;16(2):85-103. doi: 10.1002/em.2850160207.
Ethylene oxide has been shown to be an effective mutagen in a variety of organisms ranging from bacteria to mammalian cells. There is also an association between ethylene oxide exposure and human somatic cell cytogenetic damage. Furthermore, ethylene oxide has been shown to alkylate protein and DNA at exposure levels that have been encountered occupationally. Ethylene oxide is not only effective at producing somatic cell mutations but also at inducing genetic damage in germ cells. While it is clear that ethylene oxide is a germ cell mutagen in whole mammals, the mechanism(s) by which it produces genetic lesions in germ cells is uncertain.
环氧乙烷已被证明在从细菌到哺乳动物细胞等多种生物体中是一种有效的诱变剂。环氧乙烷暴露与人体体细胞的细胞遗传学损伤之间也存在关联。此外，环氧乙烷已被证明在职业接触水平下会使蛋白质和DNA烷基化。环氧乙烷不仅能有效产生体细胞突变，还能诱导生殖细胞发生遗传损伤。虽然很明显环氧乙烷在整个哺乳动物中是一种生殖细胞诱变剂，但其在生殖细胞中产生遗传损伤的机制尚不确定。
