MUTAGENICITY OF SEDIMENTS FROM THE DETROIT RIVER

Sediment samples from 30 sites in the lower Detroit River and one site in Lake Michigan were extracted with organic solvent and were tested for mutagenicity in the Ames test. Without metabolic activation, sediment samples were either non-mutagenic or weakly mutagenic. With metabolic activation, mutagenic responses (defined as doubling of the spontaneous mutation rate at one or more concentrations of organic extract) were observed in 16 of 31 samples. Mutation rates ranged from 20 to 370 histidine positive revertants per mg of organic extract. These results demonstrate the existence of compounds in sediments of the Detroit River that can be activated to mutagens. The sediments thus are a potential source of mutagenic and possibly carcinogenic compounds for fish and other organisms.