Cytogenetic effects of pesticides. I. Induction of micronuclei in mouse bone marrow by the insecticide Dursban.

The induction of micronuclei in mouse bone marrow by the organophosphorous insecticide 'Dursban' was tested. 3 routes of administration were used for the pure insecticide: intraperitoneal, oral and dermal. The different routes of treatment with Dursban induced a statistically significant increase in the percentage of polychromatic erythrocytes over that of the control. Both intraperitoneal and oral treatments with the insecticide induced a high percentage of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei, whereas dermal treatment did not induce micronuclei.