Lack of mutagenic effect of halothane or chloroform on cultured cells using the azaguanine test system.

Halothane with and without nitrous oxide and chloroform alone were tested for mutagenic effects at the 8-azaguanine locus on the chromosomes of Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cells in culture. No significant numbers of mutations were found after 24 h exposures to 1-3% of these anaesthetics, or to 75% nitrous oxide.