Mutagenicity of carcinogenic azo dyes and their derivatives.

The mutagenicity of N,N-dimethyl-4-aminoazobenzene and N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene and their derivatives was shown on Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98. S-9 Mix, obtained from rat liver after injection of polychlorinated biphenyl, was abligatory for their mutagenic action. N-Acetoxy-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene and N-benzoyloxy-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene and their 4'-methoxycarbonyl derivatives were also mutagenic on TA100 and TA98 and did not require metabolic activation by S-9 Mix. It is suggested that the carcinogenic effects of azo dyes may involve modification of DNA.