The genetic toxicology of some hydrocarban and oxygenated solvents

Two hydrocarbon solvents (heptane and Special Boiling PointSpirit 100/140) and eight oxygenated solvents [methyl ethylketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, diacetone alcohol, di-isobutylketone, isopropyl ether, hexylene glycol, secondary butyl alcoholand ME 6K (pentoxone)] have been tested for geno-toxic activity.The solvents were tested in bacterial mutation assays, a yeastassay for mitotic gene conversion and in cultured mammaliancells (either rat liver or Chinese hamster ovary) for structuralchromosome damage. All of the solvents gave a negative responsein the bacterial mutation assays and the yeast mitotic geneconversion assay. In the rat liver chromosome assay, diacetonealcohol evoked a weak positive response, the remaining solventsgave a negative response.