Phosgene

Genetic toxicity: in vitro

Administrative data

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in bacteria

Remarks:

Type of genotoxicity: gene mutation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Comparable to guideline study with acceptable restrictions (not tested in TA 1535, TA 1537 and TA 102; no data about purity of the test substance or cytotoxic effects)

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Mutagenicity of dichloroacetylene and its degradation products trichloroacetyl chloride, trichloroacryloyl chloride and hexachlorobutadiene

Author:

Reichert D, Neudecker T, Spengler U & Henschler D

Year:

1983

Bibliographic source:

Mutat. Res. 117: 21-29

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 471 (Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay)

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

- modified test with vapour exposure; only 2 Salmonella strains were used instead of 5 (TA 1535, TA 1537 and TA 102 were not investigated)

GLP compliance:

not specified

Type of assay:

bacterial reverse mutation assay

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Phosgene

EC Number:

200-870-3

EC Name:

Phosgene

Cas Number:

75-44-5

Molecular formula:

CCl2O

IUPAC Name:

phosgene

Details on test material:

Phosgene were obtained from Messer Griesheim (Düsseldorf, Germany); no further data

Method

Species / strain

Species / strain / cell type:

other: Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100

Additional strain / cell type characteristics:

not applicable

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

Aroclor 1254 induced male rat liver S9 mix

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

Not specified, but unchanged phosgene was detected in the incubation medium by GC analysis only above a gaseous concentration of 10,000 ppm.

Controls

Untreated negative controls:

not specified

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

not specified

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

other: see remarks

Remarks:

the sensivities of the tester strains were routinely checked with 2-aminoanthracene as a standard mutagen in the presence of S9 mix and with 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (TA 98) or sodium azide (TA 100) in its absence

Statistics:

Not specified.

Results and discussion

Test results

Species / strain:

other: Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

not specified

Vehicle controls validity:

not specified

Untreated negative controls validity:

not examined

Positive controls validity:

not specified

Remarks on result:

other: all strains/cell types tested

Remarks:

Migrated from field 'Test system'.

Any other information on results incl. tables

No specific mutagenicity results are reported for phosgene. However, the authors state: "Phosgene is non-mutagenic under the conditions of the S. typhimurium test system, because it reacts rapidly in the test medium. We detected unchanged phosgene in the solution only above a gaseous concentration of 10,000 ppm."

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

In a modified Ames test with vapour exposure of the test substance phosgene revealed no mutagenic activity with the Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 in the absence and in the presence of a metabolic activation system (Reichert et al., 1983). As explained by the authors phosgene would not be mutagenic under the conditions of liquid suspension in the Ames test, because this volatile gas reacts rapidly and completely with the components of the incubation system. Unchanged phosgene in the solution was only detected above a gaseous phosgene concentration of 10,000 ppm.