In vivo clastogenicity of lead chromate in mice.

Cytogenetical effects of lead chromate were evaluated in vivo. When 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 g/kg body weight of lead chromate suspensions in 0.5% gum arabic were administered i.p. to C57BL/6N male mice twice, the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the femoral bone marrow were significantly (p less than 0.01) different from that in the vehicle control. Moreover, as the dose increased, the ratio of the polychromatic to normochromatic erythrocytes decreased in a dose-response fashion (p less than 0.05). Thus, it is concluded that lead chromate in vivo gives rise to chromosomal damage as well as disturbance in hematopoiesis.