Mechanisms of Environmental Mutagenesis-Carcinogenesis, 1990

The 19th annual meeting of the European Environmental Mutagen Society was held in Rhodes, Greece, from October 21st to 26th, 1989. The programme was chosen to explore what is currently known about the mechanisms of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, induced by environmental agents, and the questions regarding the relationship of these two processes. Recent findings, techniques and methodologies in the area of biomonitoring of humans exposed to environmental mutagens-carcinogens were presented and considerable attention was also paid to the aspects and issues of collaborative environmental policy. Researchers from allover the world contributed to the programme of the meeting with posters and oral presentations, providing a variety of new data and interesting scientific approaches. A number of outstanding scientists were invited to present the results of their work. It is only their presenta­ tions which are included in this book, covering the following topics: Mutations and carcinogenesis; mechanisms of chemical­ ly-induced genetic effects on molecular, chromosomal and cell division level; adaptability and repair mechanisms; chemical carcinogenesis and oncogenes; structure and metabolism of mutagens-carcinogens; biomonitoring and epidemiology of humans exposed to environmental mutagens-carcinogens. For the sake of evaluating and controlling the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of our environment it is indispens­ able to understand the mechanisms and processes by which chemicals act on the genetic material, causing either heredi­ tary disease or cancer. The pUblication of these proceedings will hopefully contribute to this task.

Mutations and Carcinogenicity.- Mutation Spectrum in Carcinogenicity.- Mechanisms of Chemically-Induced Genetic Effects on Molecular, Chromosomal and Cell Division Level.- Ultraviolet Light Mutagenesis in Bacteria: The Possible Role of a DNA Polymerase III Complex Lacking Proofreading Exonuclease.- Centromere Separation: Emerging Relationship with Aneuploidy.- Genetic Analysis of Genotoxic Effects on Chromosomes and Cell Division in Lower Eukaryotes.- DNA Repair and the Recombination Barrier between Divergent (Homologous) Chromosomes.- Consequences of Altering Tubulin Levels in Yeast.- A Genetic Assay Using Rodent/Human Hybrid Cells to Evaluate the Genotoxic Effects of Chemicals for Multiple Endpoints.- Aneuploidy in Humans.- Adaptability and Repair Mechanisms.- The Adaptive Response to Alkylation Damage in Escherichia coli.- The Adaptive Response of Human Lymphocytes to Radiation or Chemical Mutagens: Cross-Adaptation and Synergism.- Evolving Mutation Rates and Prospects for Antimutagenesis.- Genetic Analysis of DNA Repair Defect in Xeroderma Pigmentosum Cells: Identification of Complementing Genes.- Chemical Carcinogenesis-Oncogenes.- Outline of a Descriptive General Theory of Environmental Chemical Cancerogenesis - Experimental Threshold Doses for Tumor Promoters.- The Interaction of Steroid Hormones and Oncogenes in the Establishment of Malignancy.- The Relationship between DNA-Alkali-Labile Sites and Carcinogenesis in Mammalian Cells.- Structure and Metabolism of Mutagens-Carcinogens.- Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships, and Mutagens and Carcinogens.- Enzymic Aspects on the Metabolic Activation of Aromatic and Heterocyclic Amine Mutagensin Mammalian and Bacterial Cells.- Biomonitoring and Epidemiology of Humans Exposed to Environmental Mutagens-Carcinogens.- Current Techniques for Human Population Monitoring for Genetic Effects.- Use of Aquatic Animals for Monitoring Genotoxicity in Unconcentrated Water Samples.- Cytogenetic Monitoring of Industrial Workers Exposed to Chemicals.- Monitoring Congenital Anomalies in Populations Exposed to Environmental Mutagens.- European Community Research on Genetic Effects of Environmental Chemicals and on Biomonitoring of Human Exposure.- Contributors.