Photochemical decomposition of organic compounds in water after UV-irradiation: investigation of positive mutagenic effects.

It should be investigated whether UV-disinfection of natural and contaminated organic substances in surface and drinking water may generate a positive mutagenic effect. Selected organic pesticides (atrazine, simazine, metobromurone, methabenzthiazurone, dichlorprop) and organic compounds naturally present in water (phenylalanine, tyrosine, polysaccharides) were examined in Ames-test (bacterial strains TA 98 and TA 100) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE)-test (V79 cells) before and after UV-irradiation. UV-irradiation with low- and high-pressure mercury vapor lamps was carried out in parallel experiments. Based on results in Ames- and SCE-test a mutagenic activity was not obtained for all samples, neither before nor after UV-irradiation.