Mutagenicity in a modified Salmonella assay of fabric-protecting products containing 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

Methyl chloroform (1,1,1-trichloroethane) was identified as a major component in two fabric-protector spray products. Mutagenic effects were determined at several dosage levels for the two products and some of the identified components. Levels of organics in the air of sealed desiccators, used as exposure chambers in modified Salmonella reversion assays, were measured by a gas chromatographic technique. Both fabric protectors and two samples of trichloroethane were mutagenic in strain TA 1535 and one of each was mutagenic in strain TA 100. Other constituents, such as petroleum distillate and p-dioxane, were nonmutagenic at the tested exposure levels.