Evaluation of twelve potential aneuploidogenic chemicals by the in vitro human lymphocyte micronucleus assay

Within the framework of the EEC Project on the validation of tests for genomic mutations, 12 chemicals were submitted to the micronucleus assay using in vitro cultured human lymphocytes to assess their potential aneuploidogenic activity; the results will be compared with those of other in vivo and in vitro short-term genotoxicity assays developed in different laboratories. Micronuclei were evaluated in binucleate cells, after continuous treatment for 48 or 72 hr. Five compounds gave clear positive results, showing a dose-effect relationship (acetaldehyde, cadmium chloride, colchicine, griseofulvin, vinblastine); three compounds gave positive results without a clear dose-effect correlation (chloral hydrate, hydroquinone, thiomersal) and four compounds were found to be negative (diazepam, econazole, pyrimethamine, thiabendazole).