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Mutagenicity of some alkyl nitrites used as recreational drugs
Author(s) -
Dunkel Virginia C.,
RogersBack Andrea M.,
Lawlor Timothy E.,
Harbell John W.,
Cameron Thomas P.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.2850140207
Subject(s) - nitrite , salmonella , amyl nitrite , population , carcinogen , chemistry , toxicology , biology , medicine , bacteria , environmental health , biochemistry , genetics , organic chemistry , nitrate
When the AIDS epidemic was in its earliest stages, and prior to identification of HIV as the etiological factor, the use of volatile nitrites by the male homosexual community to enhance sexual activities appeared to have a significant role in this disease. Preliminary observations indicated that that portion of the male homosexual community which developed Kaposi's sarcoma were also heavy nitrite users. These nitrites had been demonstrated to be mutagenic in bacteria and thus it was postulated that they could be responsible for the appearance of the sarcoma. To evaluate further the genotoxic activity of these chemicals, six nitrites, including those most commonly used by homosexuals for sexual gratification, were selected for testing in the mouse lymphoma TK +/− and Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assays. One chemical, n‐amyl nitrite, was negative in the mouse lymphoma assay, while the other five chemicals, n‐butyl, isobutyl, iso‐amyl, sec‐butyl, and n‐propyl nitrite, were positive. All six compounds were positive in the Salmonella assay. The mutagenic and known toxic effects of these chemicals remain a concern because a large population of teenagers and young adults continue to abuse these substances.