The mutagenicity of trimethylphosphate
Connor, T.H.
Mutation Research 65(2): 121-131
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-5107 PMID: 112474 Document Number: 150019
Trimethylphosphate (TMP) is primarily used as a gasoline additive but is also used as a methylating agent, catalyst and flame retardant in industry. The overall acute and chronic toxicity of TMP is quite low but it has been demonstrated that TMP produces a temporary sterility effect in mice, rats and rabbits. Even more important, TMP produced dominant lethal effects such as increases in early fetal deaths and preimplantation losses in mice. TMP also causes mutations in different microbial systems but usually produces a weak mutagenic effect. Its most important effect is the ability to produce a wide range of genetic damage, most probably due to its methylating capacity.