Chromosomal aberrations induced by sodium nitrite in bone marrow of adult rats and liver cells of transplacentally exposed embryos.

A commonly used food preservative, sodium nitrite, was administered in the drinking water to pregnant (d 5-18 of gestation) and nonpregnant albino rats. Sodium nitrite induced chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow of both pregnant and nonpregnant adults and liver of transplacently exposed embryos. The magnitude of the effect was greater in embryonic liver cells than in adult bone marrow cells.