Genotoxic effects of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide in mouse bone marrow cells.

Ethylene oxide and propylene oxide are high-volume reactive alkylating agents used primarily as intermediates in the chemical industry. Studies were undertaken to investigate the ability of these alkylating agents to induce chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei and sister-chromatid exchanges in mouse bone marrow cells. The mice were exposed to these chemicals by intraperitoneal injection. The data show that both compounds are effective in inducing chromosomal alterations. Our studies confirm the findings reported by different investigators that ethylene oxide is more cytotoxic than propylene oxide. This difference is to a large extent due to a faster detoxification of propylene oxide than of ethylene oxide.