Determination of radiation equivalence of the chemical furylfuramide (AF-2) for the induction of gene conversion in diploid yeast and estimation of genetic risk to the Japanese population.

Dose--effect relationships for the induction of gene conversion by AF-2 in diploid yeast have been established. On the basis of these, the rec value for AF-2 for induction of gene conversion has been calculated to be 0.085 microgram/ml.h. This compares well with the rec values obtained with other test systems and other genetic end-points. The genetic burden to the Japanese population due to consumption of AF-2 is estimated to be equivalent to 55 millirec. However, uncertainties in the consumption of AF-2 per person and its metabolic detoxication tend to lower this value to, probably, a small fraction of that due to natural background ionizing radiation.