Genetic toxicology in industry: perspectives and initiatives

Recent studies support the view that, incidents apart, synthetic chemicals in general present only an industrial hygiene problem. It is also apparent that, if performed well, the Salmonella assay plus a genetically independent eukaryotic assay will be sufficient to detect genotoxins in vitro, while the in vivo micronucleus assay, linked to a liver genotoxicity assay, will alert to significant carcinogens. Some 'carcinogens' are not genotoxic, are weak and are usually species/organ specific in their action; they should be recognized as different and treated separately. Cancer bioassays could probably be discontinued except in special cases. Current protocols for such assays often yield misleading data and are unnecessarily expensive. When seeking significant environmental carcinogens and mutagens it would be profitable to turn away from industrial chemicals, despite the fact that they are readily available. In summary, it is suggested that there now exist short-term methods from the results of which it is possible to decide, with a high level of certainty, whether a compound will be a rodent carcinogen at dose levels that may be relevant to man.