Mutagenicity of resin acids identified in pulp and paper mill effluents using the salmonella/mammalian‐microsome assay

Abstract

Ten resin acids which have been identified as constituents of pulp and paper mill effluents have been examined for potential mutagenicity in the Salmonella/mammalian‐microsome assay. Only neoabietic acid has been found to be mutagenic. Neoabietic acid showed dose‐related increases in mutagenicity in strains TA1535, TA100, TA1538, and TA98, but not in strain TA1537. Metabolic activation with a preparation of Aroclor 1254‐induced liver homogenate (S9) slightly reduced the mutagenic responses. Negative responses were found for abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, levopimaric acid, 7‐oxodehydroabietic acid, monochlorodehydroabietic acid, dichlorodehydroabietic acid, pimaric acid, isopimaric acid, and sandaracopimaric acid.