Mutagenicity studies with nitrofurans. III. Mutagenicity testing of nitrofurylacrylic acid in human blood and urine.

Human blood and urine mutagenicity of 3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylic acid (5-NFA) was analysed by using Salmonella typhimurium indicator strains TA100 AND TA98 and the cytogenetic analysis of human peripheral lymphocytes. 8 human volunteers were given doses of 1 g 5-NFA per os. The mutagenic effect in blood was analysed after 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 h, in urine after 0, 2 and 4 h. Cytogenetic analysis was done 0, 24 and 72 h after administration of 5-NFA. The experiment was repeated with 3 volunteers in the course of 96 h. When each of 8 volunteers consumed 1 g of 5-NFA, the mutagenicity was observed in 6 blood samples 1 h after exposure for strain TA98 (doubled number or revertants) and in all urine samples taken between the 2nd and 6th hours for both strains used. 7 volunteers given 10 mg 5-NFA in wine (2 sets) showed no mutagenicity of blood or urine for TA100 or TA98 indicator strains. These results are believed to indicate an enhanced elimination of 5-NFA from the human body.