Teratogenesis, Mutagenesis, and Carcinogenesis

Several inorganic arsenic compounds are weak inducers of chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchange, and in vitro transformation of mammalian and piscine cells however, there is no conclusive evidence that arsenic causes point mutations in any cellular system. Studies with bacteria suggest that arsenite is a comutagen, or may inhibit DNA repair. 

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It is important to note at the outset that several of the chronic toxic effects of concern, such as carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and teratogenesis, differ in a fundamental way from acute toxic effects since their pathological endpoints are detectable only after the proliferation of a population of cells which are derived from the target cells. These self replicating chronic effects may differ... 

EEEECTS OF TOXICANTS ON CARCINOGENESIS, TERATOGENESIS, MUTAGENESIS, AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM... 

Dangers of acute or subacute toxicity, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and teratogenesis are also pointed out through the appropriate R phrases and symbols, for example ... 

Farr CH, Reinisch K, Helsen JF, Neubert D (2001) Petential teratogenicity of di-n-butyltin dichloride and ether dibutyltin compounds. Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis, 21(6) 405-415. 

Schrader T J, Cherry W, Soper K, Langlois I and Vijay H M (2001), Examination of Altemaria altemata mutagenicity and effects of nitrosylation using the Ames Salmonella Test , Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis, 21, 261-274. 

However, most public concern does not center around death or other acute intoxication symptoms, but rather those chronic injuries which we term as irreversible. These are carcinogenesis (cancer), teratogenesis (birth defects), or mutagenesis (genetic defects). There have been three good studies involving the ability of 2,4-D to cause cancer. The conclusion by the authors of these three studies is that there is no evidence that 2,4-D causes cancer. However, the study design was such that they were not adequate to prove that 2,4-D could not cause cancer, and as a result, further cancer studies were required by the EPA which should provide a definitive answer. 

Keshava, C., Keshava, N., Whong, W.-Z., Nath, J. and Ong, T.-M. (1998) Inhibition of methotrexate-induced chromosomal damage by vanillin and chlorophyllin in V79 cells. Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1 7, 313-326. 

Toxic responses can be divided into six types direct tissue lesions pharmacological, physiological and biochemical effects teratogenesis immunotoxicity mutagenesis carcinogenesis. 

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