The genetic toxicology of some hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvents.

Two hydrocarbon solvents (heptane and Special Boiling Point Spirit 100/140) and eight oxygenated solvents [methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, diacetone alcohol, di-isobutyl ketone, isopropyl ether, hexylene glycol, secondary butyl alcohol and ME 6K (pentoxone)] have been tested for genotoxic activity. The solvents were tested in bacterial mutation assays, a yeast assay for mitotic gene conversion and in cultured mammalian cells (either rat liver or Chinese hamster ovary) for structural chromosome damage. All of the solvents gave a negative response in the bacterial mutation assays and the yeast mitotic gene conversion assay. In the rat liver chromosome assay, diacetone alcohol evoked a weak positive response, the remaining solvents gave a negative response.