Genotoxicity of mixture of imidacloprid, imazalil and tebuconazole

Graphical abstract
Highlights • Imidacloprid, imazalil, tebuconazole were non-genotoxic separately. • The mixture of imidacloprid + imazalil + tebuconazole was negative in Ames test. • The mixture induced a statistically significant increase in MN-PCEs in bone marrow. • 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.