Ethanol-induced genotoxicity.

Unrelated, nondenatured, ethanol preparations, derived synthetically or by fermentation, were found to induce qualitatively similar concentration-dependent toxic and genotoxic effects as measured by RK mutatest. In this system ethanol was found genotoxic above a threshold concentration of 18-19% (v/v) when RK+ selector cells were transiently exposed for 10 min before selection for RK- survivors at 42 degrees C.