Comparison of the mutagenic potency of 2-chloroethanol, 2-bromoethanol, 1,2-epoxybutane, epichlorohydrin and glycidaldehyde in Klebsiella pneumoniae, Drosophila melanogaster and L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells

A series of 2 haloethanols and 3 epoxides was investigated in 3 mutagenicity test systems, namely (1) the fluctuation test in Klebsiella pneumoniae, (2) the sex-linked recessive lethal test in Drosophila melanogaster, and (3) the HGPRT test with L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells. The order of mutagenic potency was, in Klebsiella: glycidaldehyde greater than 2-bromoethanol = epichlorohydrin greater than 1,2-epoxybutane greater than 2-chloroethanol; in Drosophila: glycidaldehyde = epichlorohydrin greater than 1,2-epoxybutane; in mouse lymphoma cells: epichlorohydrin greater than 1,2-epoxybutane. The haloethanols were non-mutagenic in Drosophila. 2-Chloroethanol and glycidaldehyde were negative in mouse lymphoma cells. The high mutagenic potency of epichlorohydrin as compared with 1,2-epoxybutane was consistent in all systems, and with published data.