Sister-chromatid exchange and chromosomal aberration induction in cultured Chinese hamster cells by the monomethylbenz[a]anthracenes.

The ability of the 12 monomethylbenz[a]anthracene isomers, following their metabolism by using the cell-mediated activation system, to induce 8-azaguanine-resistant mutants, sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations has been measured. Both the mutagenic potency and the ability of the monomethylbenz[a]anthracenes to induce SCEs correlated with their carcinogenic activity. None of the monomethylbenz[a]anthracenes were particularly clastogenic.