Genotoxic effects of the chlorinated hydroxyfuranones 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone and 3,4-dichloro-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone in Tradescantia micronucleus assays.

This is the first report of clastogenic effects of chlorinated hydroxyfuranones (CHFs) in plants. Two byproducts of water chlorination, 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone (MX) and 3,4-dichloro-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone (MA) induced a dose dependent increase of micronuclei (MN) in pollen mother cells of Tradescantia when doses up to 100 micrograms MX and 500 micrograms MA were applied directly to the inflorescences. In contrast, exposure of the stems in aqueous solutions containing up to 1 mg/l MX and 10 mg/l MA did not cause a positive response.