Review of mutagenicity of monocyclic aromatic amines: quantitative structure-activity relationships

Monocyclic aromatic amines (MAAs) are environmental pollutants. Many of them are genotoxic and impose hazards to human health. The mutagenicity of more than 80 of these amines was reviewed with primary emphasis on evaluation by the Ames Salmonella/microsome testing system. Many amines are mutagenic in Salmonella tester strains TA98 and TA100, but S9 mix is required for activity for most of the active ones. 2,4-Diaminotoluene, 2,4-diaminoethylbenzene, and a few amines containing a nitro-group are direct mutagens. There are several quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models which rationalize mutagenicity of many aromatic amines and several parameters, such as the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (ELUMO), highest occupied molecular orbital energy (EHOMO), and hydrophobicity that are important. What factors determine the minimum requirement for the compound to be mutagenic and what factors determine the extent of mutagenicity suggest questions for further study.