Cytogenetic effect of the thiocarbamate herbicides butylate, molinate and vernolate in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test.

Three thiocarbamate herbicides, butylate (S-ethyl-diisobutylthiocarbamate), vernolate (S-propyl dipropylthiocarbamate) and molinate (S-ethyl-N,N-hexamethylenethiocarbamate) were assayed for cytogenetic effect in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. Butylate was inactive in bone marrow, vernolate caused a marginal increase in the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes only at a high toxic dose level. Molinate, the N,N-hexamethylene derivative was, however, strongly active in the bone marrow, causing a high frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes, even at subtoxic concentrations.