Concentrated drinking water extracts, which cause bacterial mutation and chromosome damage in CHO cells, do not induce sex-linked recessive lethal mutations in Drosophila

Concentrated extracts prepared from chlorinated drinking watersamples were tested for their ability to induce sex-linked recessivelethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster. Adult flies wereallowed to feed on sucrose solutions prepared using neat orhalf-strength water extract. The drinking water extracts usedfor this study were also tested in bacterial fluctuation assaysusing Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98 and in an in vitrocytogenetic assay using CHO cells. Although the water extractsgave positive results in both of these in vitro tests, therewas no evidence of mutagenic activity in the Drosophila studies. ¹Present address: Glaxo Group Research Ltd, Park Road, Ware,Hertfordshire SG12 ODJ, UK