A Simple and Sensitive Method for Detection of Mutagens in Water by a Combination of Solid Phase Extraction and Microsuspension Procedure.

Studies were performed to develop a simple and sensitive method for detection of mutagens in water. The proposed method consists of solid phase extraction using Sep-Pak-tC18 cartridge and mutagenicity test of the cartridge extracts by the microsuspension procedure employing S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains.The cleanup process of Sep-Pak-tC18 cartridge prior to extracting of mutagens from water samples and the eluting procedure of mutagenic materials from the cartridge were very simple in view points of the solvent volumes used and time consumed, as compared with those conducted for XAD resin extraction. In addition, the mutagenic responses in the microsuspension procedure for water concentrates were shown to be ca. 18 times higher than those determined by the ordin-ary preincubation method.It was confirmed that a combination of Sep-Pak-tC18 cartridge extraction and microsuspension procedure was useful for routine monitoring of mutagens in drinking water and chlorinated lake water.