Further evidence that dichloromethane does not induce chromosome damage.

Dichloromethane (DCM) is a widely used industrial solvent that has been determined to be a carcinogen in rats and mice. In vitro and in vivo analyses of chromosome damage induced by this agent have provided conflicting results. In order to further investigate the clastogenic potential of DCM in vivo, we analyzed sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosome aberrations (CAs) in mouse bone marrow cells following intraperitoneal exposures of 100-2000 mg kg-1 DCM. Dichloromethane failed to increase the frequencies of either SCEs or CAs.