Cytogenetic effects of shale-derived oils and related by-products in mice

The cytogenetic effects of exposure to crude shale oil by either skin painting or intraperitoneal injectional and transplacental exposure of embryos to water derived from surface retort processing of shale oil were analyzed. Exposure to crude shale oils from two sources, Paraho and Occidental, by skin painting had essesntially no effect on the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells. Intraperitoneal injection of the Paraho crude shale oil increased the frequency of chromosome damage in bone marrow cells at all three doses tested (0.5 ml, 1.0 ml, and 2.0 ml/kg). Metaphase analysis of cells from embryos at day 12 gestation from females that had been exposed to 1% Paraho retort water ad libitum from day 1 of gestation indicated that clastogenic compounds present in this water can cross the placenta and induce chromosomal damage in embryonic cells.