MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION OF BALB-3T3 CELLS BY RESIDUE ORGANIC MIXTURES FROM DRINKING-WATER

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 4  (1) , 41-54
Abstract
Malignant transformation of mouse embryo BALB/3T3 1-13 cells results following treatment with complex mixtures of residue organic chemicals from drinking water samples of 5 USA cities. The USA Environmental Protection Agency provided the residues which were obtained by liquid-liquid solvent extraction, and sorption-desorption on XAD-2 resin of samples concentrated by reverse osmosis from drinking water of Philadelphia, PA; New Orleans, LA; Miami, FL; Seattle, WA; and Ottumwa, IA. Transformation was observed using a focus formation assay following 72 h exposure of cells to residues from 1 or more samples from each city. Malignancy of several transformed and normal clones was evaluated in athymic (nu/nu) mice. The usefulness of such a transformation assay in detecting potential carcinogenic compounds contained in complex mixtures and the evaluation of possible health effects of residue organics in drinking water are discussed.