Abstract: | Two lotions that tan skin in the absence of sunlight and their active ingredient, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), are mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100 without metabolic activation. However, addition of S-9 mix that contains Aroclor 1254-induced rat hepatic microsomes enhances significantly the mutagenic activity of all three agents. Both lotions and DHA also cause primary DNA damage as determined by the rec-assay in Bacillus subtilis. The potential human health hazard of these lotions is discussed. |