Biological and Chemical Studies on 3-Chloro-4(Dichloromethyl)-5-Hydroxy-2(5H)-Furanone: A Potent Mutagen in Kraft Pulp Chlorination Effluent and Chlorinated Drinking Water

摘要

The potent bacterial mutagen, 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) has been identified in the spent bleaching liquors of softwood kraft pulp mills and in drinking waters. In view of the potential hazard to human health and the possible ecological impact from pulp mill discharges, further investigation of the toxicological properties of MX was initiated. Recent studies have shown that MX is a clastogen for cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells and that it is acutely toxic to mice following oral administration or topical exposure with an LD50 of approximately 130 mg/kg for both routes. In order to assess human exposure, the development of a reproducible analytical method for the detection and quantification of MX in water samples was developed.