Mutagenic testing of diethylhydroxylamine, nitroethane, and diethylamine hydrogen sulfite

• Published in: Environmental research 1979-10, Vol.20 (1), p.99-124
• Main Authors: Legator, Marvin, Kouri, Richard E., Parmar, Amar S., Zimmering, Stanley, Putman, Cecelia, Latt, Richard, Heicklen, Julian, Meagher, James F., Weaver, James, Kelly, Nelson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollution; Animals; Diethylamines - toxicity; DNA Repair - drug effects; Drosophila - drug effects; Drosophila - genetics; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - ultrastructure; Female; Fertility - drug effects; Hydroxylamines - toxicity; Male; Mutagens; Nitro Compounds - toxicity; Pregnancy; Rats; Salmonella typhimurium - drug effects; Salmonella typhimurium - genetics; Sulfur Acids - toxicity; Urine - drug effects; Urine - microbiology
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-9351(79)90089-6

Diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA) has been shown to be an effective inhibitor of photochemical smog formation. Before it can be introduced into an urban atmosphere, its toxicity must be ascertained. In this study, we report the results of mutagenic testing of DEHA, and in some instances also of nitroethane (the new main oxidation product of DEHA) and (C 2H 5) 2NOSO 2H (which may be formed from DEHA and SO 2 under some circumstances). Drosophila testing showed less than a twofold increase in mutagenic activity by inhalation of DEHA and about a threefold increase by feeding. The dominant lethal test on rats injected with DEHA showed significantly increased biological activity only at a dose of 180 mg/kg. For rats treated by inhalation to ∼10 ppm DEHA and nitroethane, as well as the vapor of (C 2H 5)NOSO 2H, the dominant lethal test showed decreased biological activity. Bacterial testing of urine and the micronuclei test showed some increase in mutagenic activity for rats treated by inhalation. A number of laboratory tests indicated no increase in mutagenic activity by DEHA. These tests were: (1) bacterial testing of DEHA, (2) bacterial testing of the urine of animals fed DEHA, (3) alkylation of hemoglobin and urine of rats treated with DEHA, and (4) micronuclei test of mice fed 200 mg/kg DEHA for 5 days. The only positive test was that for DEHA induction of DNA repair.