Genotoxicity of selected metal compounds in the SOS chromotest.

Knowledge concerning the genotoxicity of inorganic metal compounds in the SOS chromotest is limited. Up to now, only Cr(VI), Sn(II) and the platinum antitumor compound cisplatin(II) were shown to be genotoxic in this test system. However, for Cr(VI) and Sn(II), a positive reaction could only be achieved in cytotoxic dose ranges. The aim of the present study was to provide additional data concerning metal salt genotoxicity in the SOS chromotest. Therefore, 14 metal/metalloid salt compounds of platinum, palladium, rhodium, arsenic, antimony and chromium were tested. Four platinum salts, K2PtCl4, cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 (cisplatin), trans-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 (transplatin) and PtCl4 as well as two rhodium compounds tested, K2RhCl5 and (NH4)3RhCl6, could be shown to be genotoxic in the chromotest using the tester strain Escherichia coli PQ37. A moderate genotoxicity was shown by the two Cr(VI) compounds K2CrO4 and K2Cr2O7. All palladium compounds and all the other metal salts tested were unable to induce a significant SOS response.