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International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations

ANILINE AND ANILINE HYDROCHLORIDE

VOL.: 27 (1982) (p. 39)

5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation

5.1 Experimental data

Aniline hydrochloride was tested in mice by dietary administration, producing no carcinogenic effects. It was also tested by oral administration in rats; in one experiment by dietary administration it produced fibrosarcomas, sarcomas and haemangiosarcomas of the spleen or the peritoneal cavity.

Aniline was inactive in bacterial and mammalian DNA repair assays, in tests for mitotic recombination with yeast and in cell transformation assays. It did not induce chromosomal aberrations in mammalian cells or in animals. It was not mutagenic for the silkworm; nor was it mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium unless both norharman and hepatic microsomes were present. Urines from treated rats were mutagenic for S. typhimurium with metabolic activation. Aniline induced sister chromatid exchanges in cultured mammalian cells.

5.2 Human data

Aniline has been produced commercially since 1847. Its numerous applications as a chemical intermediate could result in occupational exposure. Contamination of the general environment has been reported to occur.

The high risk of bladder cancer observed originally in workers in the aniline dye industry was probably due to exposure to chemicals other than aniline. Studies of individuals exposed to aniline but to no other known bladder carcinogens have shown little evidence of increased risk. The best of these reported one death from bladder cancer in 1223 men producing or using aniline, with 0.83 deaths expected from population rates. The degree of confidence which can be placed in the negative results obtained in the other studies is difficult to assess because of the absence of estimates of expected numbers of bladder cancers and the presumed lack of follow-up of workers who had left the industry.

5.3 Evaluation

There is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of aniline hydrochloride in experimental animals. The available epidemiological data are insufficient to allow a conclusion as to the carcinogenicity of aniline. On the basis of all the available data, no evaluation could be made of the carcinogenicity of aniline to humans.

For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.

Previous evaluation: Vol. 4 (1974)

Subsequent evaluation: Suppl. 7 (1987)

Last updated: 8 April 1998 






























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