Metal Mutagenesis

Abstract

Interest in the mutagenicity of metal compounds has its origin in the search for a reasonable mechanism for the carcinogenicity of some metal compounds. Epidemiological studies have provided evidence that occupational and environmental exposures to some metal compounds (arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, nickel, and possibly lead and mercury) are associated with human cancers (IARC 1973, 1980, 1987, 1993; MAgos 1991). In addition, there are a number of other metal compounds which induce tumors in animals, but for which the human data is not available (IARC 1980). The recent identification and cloning of mutant oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes provides convincing evidence that mutational events in somatic cells are involved in the conversion of normal cells to malignancy. Thus, understanding the types of genetic changes induced by metal compounds should yield important clues for understanding their carcinogenic effects as well as other toxic effects which have a genotoxic component.