Mutagenicity tests and in vitro transformation assays on triethanolamine

Abstract

Triethanolamine has been widely used as a neutralizer in cosmetics and toilet preparations. A significant increase in the incidence of malignant tumors has been reported in female mice fed on diets containing triethanolamine throughout life. The possible mutagenicity and cell-transforming activity of triethanolamine were examined by measuring the reactivity of triethanolamine with DNA by rec assay, its mutagenicity in S. typhimurium and E. coli test systems, its ability to produce chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster cells and its ability to induce transformation of hamster embryo cells. The four test systems showed no evidence of induction of DNA damage, gene mutation, chromosomal aberration or cell transformation in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells treated with triethanolamine. Neither diethanolamine nor monoethanolamine induced transformation of hamster embryo cells. These results suggest that triethanolamine may not produce so-called genotoxic effects by reaction with DNA, and consequent induction of changes in DNA structure and function. The increased incidence of tumors induced by triethanolamine may be a secondary or indirect result of some specific cytotoxic effect.