Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 10, Revision 3 (FGE.10Rev3): Aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lac : Flavouring Group Evaluation 10, Revision 3

A large series of assays of the hepatocarcinogenic potential of 112 different compounds were carried out using a rapid bioassay system developed in this laboratory based on the two-step concept of hepatocarcinogenesis. Rats were initially given a single dose (200 mg/kg) of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) i.p. and starting 2 weeks later were treated with test compounds for 6 weeks and then killed, all rats being subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) at week 3. Carcinogenic potential was scored by comparing the number and area per cm2 of induced glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive (GST-P+) foci in the liver with those of the corresponding control group given DEN alone. Positive was scored for a significant increase in the value of GST-P+ foci, negative for no change or a decrease. Results were compared to reported Salmonella/microsome and long-term carcinogenicity test findings. Of the liver carcinogens, 10 out of 11 (90.9%) mutagenic, and 11 out of 13 (84.6%) non-mutagenic compounds gave positive results (mean, 87.5%). Carcinogens other than the hepatocarcinogens gave less positive results (two out of 17, 11.8%). None of the compounds reported as non-carcinogenic demonstrated positivity suggesting that the assay system does not suffer from the disadvantage of false-positive results. The protocol system also provided information concerning the inhibitory potential of compounds such as anti-oxidants. It is concluded that the present experimental protocol which requires far fewer animals and shorter duration than a long-term carcinogenicity test has practical applications for the rapid and economical screening of environmental hepatocarcinogens and their inhibitory agents.

To clarify the mutagenic activity of individual smoke components, 239 compounds, representative of the gaseous and semivolatile phases of tobacco smoke, were assayed for mutagenicity towards 4 histidine-requiring mutants of Salmonella typhimurium (TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535 and TA 1537). All compounds were tested qualitatively both with and without metabolic activation using a liver fraction (S-9) from Aroclor 1254 or methylcholanthrene induced rats. Without S-9, only 2,3-dimethylindole and 2,3,5-trimethylindole showed mutagenic activity that was not enhanced by the metabolic activation system. 2,6-Diaminotoluene and coronene, which like the above compounds are not documented carcinogens were found to be mutagenic for strain TA 98 with S-9. Mutagenic activity was also observed for the previously known mutagens benz[a]pyrene, chrysene, benz[a]-anthracene, perylene and beta-naphthylamine, on exposure to strains TA 98 and/or TA 100 with S-9.