[On the increase of phototoxic activities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced by dish detergents (author's transl)].

Several bands of dish detergents were found in high dilutions to increase phototoxic cell damage produced by polycyclic hydrocarbons such as benzo(a)pyrene. A comparable increase in phototoxicity in the presence of detergents was observed following the phagocytic ingestion of photodynamically active soot particles by the test organisms, Tetrahymena pyriformis (ciliate). The results are considered in the light of earlier reports on increased carcinogenicity following detergent action of one of the brands used in this investigation (P) on benzo(a)-pyrene. Possible mechanisms of action of detergents producing the increase in respective activities are discussed.