The bone marrow clastogenicity of eight halogenated benzenes in male NMRI mice

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Abstract
Eight widely used halogenated benzenes, including bromo-benzene (BB), chlorobenzene (CB), three isomers of dichloro-benzene (DCB) and three isomers of trichlorobenzene (TCB) were tested for acute toxicity (LD50) and clastogenicity in 8-week-old NMRI mice by intraperitoneal administration. Four doses of each chemical (up to 70% of LD50) were tested for clastogenic activity. Each compound was administered in two equal doses, 24 h apart. Increased formation of micro-nucleated polychromatic erythrocytes, observed in femoral bone marrow, 30 h after the first injection, was considered to be due to the clastogenic activity of the test compound. All the halogenated benzenes tested were found to be clastogenic (P < 0.01). The highest clastogenic activities were induced by m-DCB and BB. Among the three isomers of DCB, m-DCB significantly (P < 0.05) induced more micro-nuclei than o-DCB or p-DCB. No significant differences were found between the clastogenic activities of TCB isomers.