Safety assessment of a novel thermostable phytase

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The toxicity of Phytase TSP a new thermostable phytase was studied.

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No genotoxic or toxic effects were recorded for Phytase TSP.

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The NOAEL for the new Phytase TSP is 1000 mg/kg bw/d.

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The studies support the safety of Phytase TSP as an animal feed additive.

A novel 6-phytase (Phytase TSP, trade name OptiPhos® PLUS) with improved thermostability has been developed for use in animal feed. The safety of the new phytase was evaluated by testing for genotoxicity and subchronic toxicity. In in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity assays Phytase TSP concentrate was not mutagenic and did not induce biologically or statistically significant increases in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. In a subchronic toxicity study, male and female rats administered 100, 500 or 1000 mg/kg body weight/day of Phytase TSP concentrate via oral gavage for 90 days had no mortalities, and no treatment-related effects on body weight, food consumption, clinical observations or ophthalmology. Furthermore, there were no changes in haematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, gross pathology, organ weights or histopathology that could be attributed to the test article. Several endpoints exhibited statistically significant effects, but none was dose-related or considered to be of toxicological relevance. Based on these results, Phytase TSP concentrate (OptiPhos® PLUS) was not genotoxic and the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for male and female rats was 1000 mg/kg body weight/day.

Genotoxicity of mixture of imidacloprid, imazalil and tebuconazole

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Imidacloprid, imazalil, tebuconazole were non-genotoxic separately.

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The mixture of imidacloprid + imazalil + tebuconazole was negative in Ames test.

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The mixture induced a statistically significant increase in MN-PCEs in bone marrow.

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The effect observed in vivo is probably mediated by synergism of TGAIs.

Genotoxicity of the mixture of generic pesticides imidacloprid + imazalil + tebuconazole in a ratio of 14.0/1.7/1.0 by weight was assessed using Ames test (Salmonella typhimurium) and micronucleus test in vivo on mammalian bone marrow erythrocytes (CD-1 mice) supporting the data creation for the Real Life Risk Simulation (RLRS) approach. This pesticides’ combination is used in the commercial formulation for seed treatment in advance of or immediately before sowing. Tested pesticides’ technical grade active ingredients (TGAIs) showed no evidence of genotoxicity upon separate treatments. In combination, the three pesticides demonstrated negative results in the Ames test but induced a statistically significant, dose-depended increase in MN-PCEs in mice bone marrow at doses lower than those used separately. The observed effect may be mediated by the synergistic action of the tested TGAIs, their metabolites or impurities.

Maximum tolerated doses and erythropoiesis effects in the mouse bone marrow by 79 pesticides' technical materials assessed with the micronucleus assay

Effects of technical materials of pesticide active ingredients, belonging to various chemical classes, on erythropoiesis in mouse bone marrow were studied as part of the research on the pesticide mutagenic activity in micronucleus test. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the toxic action of the test substances on the target organ and the validity of the results of the micronucleus assay under conditions of erythropoiesis suppression. It was demonstrated that intragastrically administrated triazole pesticides reached bone marrow (target organ where micronucleus induction was assessed) and exerted an inhibitory effect on erythropoiesis. The effects of triazole pesticides were enhanced in the following order: difenoconazole ≤ tebuconazole < cyproconazole < flutriafol. Furthermore, an association between structural features of molecules and specific target organ activity of the test pesticides was observed. Based on the data on the general toxicity and the results of the evaluation of the effects on erythropoiesis, the maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) of 79 different technical materials of pesticides for CD-1 mice were determined.