Short-Term Exposure to Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow Induces Hematological Alterations and DNA Damage in Rats

Tartrazine (E-102) and Sunset Yellow (E-110) are widely used synthetic azo food dyes, yet concerns remain regarding their hematological and genotoxic effects, particularly following repeated and combined exposure. This study evaluated the hematological toxicity and genotoxic potential of Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow, administered individually and in combination, using complementary in vitro and in vivo endpoints. In the in vitro design, lymphocytes from healthy donors were exposed to 250, 500, and 750 μg/mL of Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow, individually and in combination, for 3 h. In the in vivo study, Wistar rats were orally exposed to Tartrazine (3.75 and 15 mg/kg), Sunset Yellow (1.75 and 7 mg/kg), or their combinations for 7 and 21 days. Hematological parameters, including hemoglobin (Hb), RBCs count, hematocrit (Hct), and leukocyte profiles, were measured. Genotoxicity was assessed using the comet assay to detect DNA strand breaks and the micronucleus assay to assess fixed chromosomal damage. In vitro, both dyes induced significant DNA damage following individual and combined exposure. Similarly, in vivo, both dyes produced significant dose- and time-dependent hematological alterations, with Sunset Yellow producing more pronounced effects than Tartrazine. Combined exposure resulted in the greatest hematological disturbances. The comet assay revealed significant increases in DNA strand breaks, particularly following combined treatment, whereas micronucleus frequency was not significantly altered compared with controls. These findings indicate that short-term exposure to Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow disrupts hematological homeostasis and induces transient DNA damage, highlighting the need for further studies to evaluate the health implications of combined exposure to synthetic food dyes.