Mutagenicity of skin tanning lotions

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.