Abstract:
The micronucleus test was used to examine the
mutagenicity of sodium tetraborate or Borax on male
albino mice. Four different single doses of Borax (100,
300, 900, 2700 mg/kg body weight) were tested. Their
effects on the bone marrow cells were compared with
distilled water as negative control and Mitomycin-C as
the positive control. Sixty mice were sacrificed to score
the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic
erythrocytes or (MPCE). Mean incidence of MPCE
increased with higher doses of administered Borax.
Such values were not significantly different for doses of
900 mg/kg borax and lower. Mice given the dose of
2700 mg/kg Borax had a mean incidence of MPCE
which was 172 % greater than that of the negative
control. This incidence was at a value of 10, about 35 %
lower than the mean value for the Mitomycin-C
standard. These results suggest that Borax is potentially
mutagenic to bone marrow cells of mice at a minimum
dosage estimated to be 2435 ~ mg/kg.
