Comparative Assessment of the Mussel Micronucleus Test Versus Bacterial Bioassays for Genotoxicity Testing of Benzo[a]pyrene

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are hazardous compounds to the environment and human health, thus their detection is an important task. In this study the genotoxic effect of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) was examined on a freshwater mussel Unio pictorum and results were compared to bacterial tests, such as the Ames test and SOS chromotest. The aim of the study was to calibrate the sensitivity of the mussel micronucleus test to that of the two bacterial tests using B[a]P as a reference chemical. The Ames and the micronucleus tests gave similar response both in sensitivity and in concentrationresponse pattern. These two tests are proposed to be applied in a battery for genotoxicity testing.