Mutagenic and genotoxic activity detected by the Ames, micronucleus and SCE tests under the influence of samples of dyes manufactured in Poland.

In this study, we evaluated the mutagenic and genotoxic potential of commercial samples of chemicals manufactured by Polish dyestuff industry for their ability to mutate Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102), and to induce formation of micronuclei (MN) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in mice bone marrow cells. This study involved five dyes selected from a list of colorants, considered to be representative of those which were most extensively used in the trade. According to criteria listed by IARC (1984), the results obtained in this work and earlier tests of Basic Blue 26, 44045 and Direct Red 83, 29225 provided no evidence of genetic activity (all 3 tests were negative); for Acid Violet 49, 42640 and Disperse Blue 37, the evidence of genetic activity was inadequate (1 test was positive) and the tests for Acid Black 194 provided limited evidence of genetic activity (2 positive tests).