Detection of mutagenic impurities in carcinogens and noncarcinogens by high-pressure liquid chromatography and the Salmonella/microsome test

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Cancer Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6784869

Donahue, E V; McCann, J; Ames, B N

High-pressure liquid chromatography and the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test was used to look for mutagenic impurities in 11 carcinogens and noncarcinogens. Because of the million-fold range in mutagenic potency observed in the Salmonella test, even trace amounts of potent mutagenic impurities in a nonmutagenic compound could be detected. The mutagenicity of 7-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene, a noncarcinogen in the standard animal carcinogenicity tests, is shown to be due to a small amount of impurity, which is probably the potent carcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene. This is discussed in relation to the statistical limitations of animal carcinogenicity tests. We also discuss the role of mutagenic impurities in assessing the mutagenicity of environmental (and industrial) chemicals with high-sensitivity mutagenicity assays, such as the Salmonella/microsome test.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• OSTI ID: 6784869
• Journal Information: Cancer Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Cancer Res.; (United States) Vol. 38:2; ISSN CNREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550400* -- Genetics
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACETYL RADICALS
ACYL RADICALS
AMINES
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
BIOASSAY
CARCINOGENESIS
CARCINOGENS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
FLUORENE
HYDROCARBONS
IMPURITIES
MICROORGANISMS
MICROSOMES
MUTAGENESIS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
PATHOGENESIS
RADICALS
SALMONELLA
SEPARATION PROCESSES