Changes in mutagenicity during biodegradation of fenitrothion

In order to investigate changes in the mutagenicity of fenitrothion during its biodegradation in solution, measurements were conducted at intervals in batch cultures incubated under anaerobic or aerobic conditions. Fenitrothion-degrading bacteria were obtained from a green onion field on the west side of Gifu University, Japan. Fenitrothion was almost completely decomposed by day 12 under both types of incubation condition. The indirect mutagenicity of the solution to strains YG1029 and YG1042, however, increased markedly during anaerobic biodegradation. The increase in mutagenicity was partially due to amino-fenitrothion, a metabolite formed during anaerobic biodegradation of fenitrothion. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.