The Genotoxic Potential of Linear Alkylbenzene Mixtures in a Short-Term Test Battery

Alkylate 215 (A-215), Alkylate 225 (A-225), and Alkylate 230(A-230) are mixtures of C₁₀–C₁₄ linear alkylbenzenes usedas intermediates for the manufacture of detergents. These productswere evaluated for genotoxic activity in the Ames bacterialmutagenesis assay (strains TA98, 100, 1535, and 1537), the CHO/HGPRTmammalian cell forward gene mutation assay, and the in vivorat bone marrow chromosome assay. The Ames and CHO/HGPRT assayswere conducted both with and without the addition of Aroclor-inducedrat liver S9. The maximum concentrations evaluated were 10 mg/plate(A-215) and 3 mg/plate (A-225 and A-230) for the Ames test,and 1.5 mg/ml (A-215 and A-225) and 2.0 mg/ml (A-230) for theCHO/HGPRT assay. In each case, the highest concentrations producedevidence of either toxicity or insolubility. The highest dosein the bone mar row cytogenetics assay was 12,700 mg/kg, a levelwhich produced significant weight loss. The results of all testswere negative, indicating a lack of genotoxic activity as measuredby the battery of tests used.