[In vitro toxicity tests of diethyleneglycol with cell cultures and an automated bacterial test system]

Diethyleneglycol was tested for its general cytotoxic effects in three cell culture test systems and in a novel, automated bacterial test system. The first cytotoxic effects were detected in the cell culture test systems at DEG-concentrations of 1 g/1 and 3g/1. The bacterial test system showed a minimal inhibitory concentration of 5 g/1 DEG (20% growth reduction). Morphological observations showed evidence of membrane damage to the cultured cells by DEG. With the bacterial test system one could determine the amount of DEG semiquantitatively in wines to which this material had been added.