The use of short-term tests in detecting carcinogenicity of complex mixtures

Since it is not feasible to test all substances in long-term animal studies, short-term tests for DNA damage, gene mutation, aneuploidy, chromosomal damage and cell transformation performed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes in vitro and in vivo are used to test pure chemicals and mixtures. Understanding the contribution of mutagens in air, water and food is important to our way of life; methods of sampling and testing such mutagens are discussed in this review.