Mutagenic activity of some textile dyes in different test systems.

The Salmonella/microsome mammalian test, the micronucleus and the dominant lethal tests on mice were used to study mutagenic effects of three dyes widely used in the textile industry. Direct Black 19:1, Direct Red 81 and Acid Blue 62 increased the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in bone marrow of mice. Out of all dyes tested, only Direct Black 19:1 appeared to be an indirect mutagen inducing reverse mutations in two strains of Salmonella typhimurium TA 1538 and TA 98. None of them produced dominant lethal mutations in germ cells of male mice.