Cytological effects of an organic phosphate pesticide on human cells in vitro.

This investigation was undertaken to determine the radiomimetic effects in vitro of the insecticide guthion [azinophos-methyl; O, O-dimethyl S-(4-oxobenzotriazino-3-methyl) phosphorodithioate] on two human cell lines, diploid (WI-38) and heteroploid (HEp-2). In WI-38 cells, dosages of 120, 140 and 160 microng/ml of guthion were effective in inducing an average chromosome breakage of 0.042, 0.058 and 0.165 respectively per cell. In control cells, the mean number of breaks per cell was 0.011. Chromosome breakages were significantly higher in treated cells. Since guthion prevents cells from entering into mitosis during treatment, the number of mitiotic cells decreases rapidly following treatment with higher concentrations. Similar dosages in treated HEp-2 cells also induced a high incidence of chromosome aberrations, the most common being chromatid breaks and exchanges. Infrequently noted were mild failure of condensation, despiralization, secondary constrictions, gaps, dicentric chromosomes and pulverization. To date, this study reaffirms previous findings of the potentially hazardous, mutagenic effects of guthion.