International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations
meta- AND para-CRESIDINE
VOL.: 27 (1982) (p. 91)
meta-Cresidine
CAS No.: 102-50-0
Chem. Abstr. Name: Benzenamine, 4-methoxy-2-methyl-
para-Cresidine
CAS No.: 120-71-8
Chem. Abstr. Name: Benzenamine, 2-methoxy-5-methyl-
5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation
5.1 Experimental data
meta- and para-Cresidine (technical grades) were tested in mice and
rats by dietary administration. In the only experiment in rats with
meta-cresidine, it produced an increased incidence of
transitional-cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder in males. The
results of the study in mice were inconclusive. para-Cresidine
produced malignant tumours of the urinary bladder in both mice and
rats, olfactory neuroblastomas in rats of both sexes and liver tumours
in male rats; it also produced nasal cavity tumours in male mice and
liver-cell tumours in female mice.
Technical-grade meta-cresidine was not mutagenic to Salmonella
typhimurium or Escherichia coli. para-Cresidine was mutagenic to S.
typhimurium after metabolic activation.
5.2 Human data
Although meta-cresidine is produced commercially, the extent to which
humans are exposed to it is unknown.
para-Cresidine has been produced commercially since 1926. Its use as
a dye intermediate could result in occupational exposure, and such
exposure may have increased markedly in recent years as a result of
the greater production of para-cresidine-based food dyes.
No case report or epidemiological study was available to the Working
Group.
5.3 Evaluation
The available data were inadequate to evaluate the carcinogenicity of
meta-cresidine in experimental animals. No evaluation of the
carcinogenicity of meta-cresidine to humans could be made.
There is sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity of
para-cresidine in experimental animals. In the absence of data on
humans, para-cresidine should be regarded, for practical purposes, as
if it presented a carcinogenic risk to humans.
For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.
Subsequent evaluation: Suppl. 7 (1987) (p. 61: meta-Cresidine - Group 3; para-Cresidine - Group 2B)
Synonyms for meta-Cresidine
- 4-Methoxy-2-methylaniline
- 2-Methyl-para-anisidine
- 2-Methyl-4-methoxyaniline
Synonyms for para-Cresidine
- meta-Amino-para-cresol, methyl ether
- 1-Amino-2-methoxy-5-methylbenzene
- 3-Amino-4-methoxytoluene
- Azoic Red 36
- C.I. Azoic Red 83 (Component)
- Cresidine
- Kresidin
- 2-Methoxy-5-methylaniline
- 4-Methyl-2-aminoanisole
- 5-Methyl-ortho-anisidine
Last updated: 8 April 1998