Mutagens and Teratogens
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A brief explanation of mutagens and teratogens, where some are found, and how they impact one's health.
Can You Say Mutagen and Teratogen?
-- Probably not without risk of mispronunciation, which, though neither contagious nor necessarily a permanent condition, can damage your reputation. Some common mutagenic and teratogenic chemicals A to Z include: Acrylonitrates, aniline, anesthetic gases, arsenic compounds, benzene, benzo- (a)pyrene, beryllium, boron (boric acid), cadmium, carbon monoxide, chlordicone, chloro-form, chloroprene, dichloromethane, epichloro-hydrin, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde (formalin), hexachlorobenzene, lead (organic/ in-organic), methyl ethyl ketone, monomethylforma-mide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, selenium & compounds, thallium, toluene, vinyl chloride and xylene. [Phillipine Daily Inquirer 2006]
MUTAGEN ( myüt. j n) : An agent (toxin, radiation, virus,) capable of causing mutation (a relatively permanent change in DNA, the hereditary material). The amount of damage caused by a mutagen depends on three factors: (1) chemical reactivity between DNA and the mutagen, (2) the concentration or dose of the mutagen, & (3) length of exposure time of DNA to mutagen.1 Damage and repair to DNA are constantly occurring; but when the damage isn’t repaired the result can be cancer or cell death. Also, genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease can be caused by a single DNA mutation in one gene.2 And we just can’t seem to choreograph the DNA-repair part of this dance. This sounds incredibly ominous to me!
Where to find a mutagen: I hate to be the bearer of such bad news, but mutagens are everywhere! There are many hundreds of chemicals known to be mutagens. For example, diesel exhaust contains the extremely potent mutagen 3-nitrobenzanthrone.3 If you can get anywhere without sucking down some 3-nitrobenzanthrone, you’ve had a good day. I would suggest a refreshing wilderness foray.
1 Microbial Genetics 2002
2 http://www.bookrags.com/sciences/genetics/dna-repair-gen- 01.html
3 The Institute of Cancer Research
TERATOGEN (t rat. j n) An environmental agent that causes harm (developmental malformations) or death to the developing embryo. Alcohol is a well-known teratogen. For an enormous list of known and suspected teratogens [really!—go look at it. Denial doesn’t make the list smaller or make it go away, and it won’t make life any less toxic!]: http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/teratogens.html
How do they work?: Teratogenic agents include infectious agents (e.g. syphilis, rubella), physical agents (e.g. ionizing agents, extremely high fever), maternal health factors (e.g. diabetes, PKU), environmental chemicals (e.g. PCB’s, pesticides, solvents), and drugs (prescription, over-the-counter, and “recreational”). So it appears that if you eat organic food and live in a bubble, you’ll be somewhat protected from teratogens!
The severity of the damage and the defect that occurs are the result of the dose and the timing (in terms of fetal development) of exposure to a particular agent, and genetic susceptibility of embryo and mother.4 But remember, teratogens are agents that cause fetal injury when a pregnant woman is exposed to them. You could say that if you are not a pregnant woman, it’s not your problem. Whew! Does that ever let a lot of us off the hook! Or does it?
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