Mutagenicity of benzidine and related compounds employed in the detection of hemoglobin

Seven compounds commonly used as chromagens for the detection of hemoglobin and its derivatives have been assayed for mutagenicity employing the Salmonella/mammalian microsome test. Three of these compounds, benzidine, o-dianisidine, and o-tolidine, were shown to be mutagenic. Since benzidine and o-tolidine are already known to be carcinogens, there is a high probability that o-dianisidine will also prove to be a carcinogen. Four compounds tested with this system, o-anisidine, diphenylamine, guaicol, and o-toluidine, were not mutagenic.