Influence on genotoxicity of organic extracts in surface water by conventional water treatment process

Objective To discuss the influence on genotoxicity of the organic extracts in surface water by conventional water treatment process. Methods The organic pollutants in the source water and pipeline water from a water plant in Guiyang from July to September(wet season) in 2010 were extracted. Ames assay was used to assess the potential of mutagenicity(at the doses of 2, 4 and 8 L/dish respectively); Single cell gel electrophoresis test and micronucleus test of mouse bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes were used to assess the DNA and chromosome damage,using 80 kunming mice of clean grade, half male and half female in each group, at the doses of 0.01, 0.05 and 0.25 L/g, once a day, for 5 consecutive days. Results In the Ames test,mutagenic actvity was negative in TA100 salmonella typhimurium under organic extracts in two kinds water samples, however, mutagenic activity was positive in TA98 salmonella typhimurium with and without S9 under 8 L/vessel from source water,4 L/vessel and 8 L/vessel from pipeline water. Compared with the solvent control group, comet cell rates and tail length were significantly increased in the moderate and high dose groups and all doses of pipeline water(P 0.05). And compared with the solvent group, micronucleus rates was significantly increased only in the group of 0.25 L/g(P 0.05). Conclusion The organic contaminants extracted from surface water have the potential genotoxicity before and after the water is treated with conventional method.