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In vitro and in vivo indications of the carcinogenicity and toxicity of food dyes
Author(s) -
Price Paul J.,
Suk William A.,
Freeman Aaron E.,
Lane William T.,
Peters Robert L.,
Ver Mina Lee,
Huebner Robert J.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910210318
Subject(s) - carcinogen , in vivo , in vitro , hamster , toxicity , neutral red , toxicology , biology , malignant transformation , blue light , chemistry , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , cytotoxicity , cancer research , physics , optics
Eight food dyes or commercial color mixtures certified for use in the United States were tested for their ability to transform in vitro a serial line of Fischer rat embryo cells previously reported to be a sensitive indicator of chemicals having carcinogenic potential. Malignant cell transformation was induced by a commercial mixture (G2024) of two of these dyes (Blue 1 and Yellow 5) and by Blue 2, Green 3 (one of two experiments) and Red 4. Food dyes Blue 1, Red 3, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 did not induce cell transformation. One to 1.5 mg of each dye was injected into suckling LVG or Graffi hamsters which were monitored for tumor induction and/or death over a 330‐day period. None of the non‐transforming dyes (Blue 1, Red 3, Yellow 5, Yellow 6) or Green 3 induced a significant increase in tumor (mostly lymphoma) incidence or animal mortality. Three of the transforming dyes (Blue 2, Green 2024, Red 4) did increase tumor incidence and/or mortality in at least one strain of hamster. We conclude that the in vitro assay suggested that certain food dyes were carcinogens and that in vivo studies in hamsters supported this interpretation.