Effect of some organic ammonium salts and amine oxides in the SOS chromotest.

The effect of two organic ammonium salts, (1-methyldodecyl)trimethylammonium bromide (ATDBr) and tetramethylammonium bromide (TMABr), as well as that of two amine oxides, (1-methyl-dodecyl)dimethylamine oxide (ATDNO) and trimethylamine oxide (TMANO) on the induction of the SOS system in Escherichia coli PQ 37 (SOS chromotest) was examined. The compound with the long alkyl chain in the molecule (ATDBr) showed genotoxic activity in all concentrations tested. In the second group of the amphiphilic compounds tested, amine oxides, no effect of the length of the alkyl chain upon the studied activity was ascertained.