The mutagenic and DNA-modifying effects of 27 nitrofuran derivatives were studied by means of several rapid microbial assay methods. The mutagenic effects were tested with the use of Escherichia coli, B/r WP2 try' and WP2 fry", her'; and with Salmonella typhimurium, TA1535, TA1536, TA1537, and TAI538. The DNA-modifying effects were assayed by repair tests with E. coli, ree*, recA13, and recB21, S. typhimurium, TA 1978 (uvr*) and TA 1538 (uvrB). Twenty-six of the 27 nitrofuran derivatives tested

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... had mutagenic effects on E. coli, but none of them had mutagenic effects on S. typhimurium. Twenty-five compounds had DNA-modifying effects on E. coli, and 24 compounds had effects on the DN A of S. typhimurium. Fifteen of the 27 compounds are known to be carcinogenic. Fourteen of these 15 carcinogenic derivatives had mutagenic effects on E. coli and DNA-modify ing effects on E. coli and 5. typhimurium. Nitrofurazone gave positive results on mutagenicity and in repair tests with E. coli, but negative results on mutagenicity and in repair tests with S. typhimurium. Three derivatives reported as noncarcinogenic also showed positive mutagenic and DNA-modifying effects. One of these, 2-{2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide, is widely used as a food additive in Japan. The necessity for further in vivo tests on the carcinogenicities of these three compounds is indicated. The results show that several different microbial systems must be used for detection of potential carcinogens and mutagens.