Metrifonate and dichlorvos: cytogenetic investigations.

Contradictory results are found in the literature about the cytogenetical effects of dichlorvos and metrifonate in mammals whereas their chromosome breaking ability was demonstrated in plant and Drosophila cells. They were tested on both in vitro and in vivo cells for chromosome breakage. Dominant lethal mutations were also investigated in mouse as well as epidemiological studies in man. In our experiments on mouse bone marrow and testis, one acute dose was injected respectively: 10 mg/kg for dichlorvos and 100 mg/kg for metrifonate. These experiments failed to reveal any clastogenic effect in these test systems as well as in chronic treatments respectively 2 p.p.m./5 days a week for 7 weeks for dichlorvos and 0.5 p.p.m. 5 days a week for 7 weeks for metrifonate. In an investigation of dominant lethal mutations, dichlorvos did not enhance the frequency of dead embryos but the frequency of pre-implantation losses was significantly increased in two specific periods of the seven investigated. In the same test, metrifonate did not produce any effect. These data are compared with those obtained with trimethylphosphate and MMS taken as positive controls. These results will serve to reevaluate the cytogenetical risks of dichlorvos and metrifonate.