International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations
ALLYL ISOTHIOCYANATE
VOL.:36 (1985) (p. 55)
CAS No.: 57-06-7
Chem. Abstr. Name: 1-Propene, 3-isothiocyanato-
5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation
5.1 Exposure data
Allyl isothiocyanate occurs widely in natural products in the
glucoside sinigrin. Synthetic allyl isothiocyanate has been produced
commercially since 1937. Allyl isothiocyanate is also prepared from
the seeds of mustard plants, Brassica nigra and B. juncea. It is
used principally as a flavouring agent in a variety of foods.
Exposures can also occur from its use as an alcohol denaturant and in
external analgesic products.
5.2 Experimental data
Allyl isothiocyanate was tested for carcinogenicity by gastric
intubation in mice of one strain and in rats of one strain. In mice,
no increase in the incidence of tumours was observed. An increased
incidence of epithelial hyperplasia and transitional-cell papillomas
of the urinary bladder was observed in male rats only, and some
subcutaneous fibrosarcomas occurred in female rats given the high
dose.
Allyl isothiocyanate was not teratogenic to mice, rats, hamsters
or rabbits, but resorptions were seen in mice and rats.
Allyl isothiocyanate did not induce DNA damage in bacteria. It
induced mutations in bacteria and insects and chromosomal aberrations
in plants. It did not induce dominant lethal mutations in mice.
5.3 Human data
No case report or epidemiological study of the carcinogenicity of
allyl isothiocyanate to humans was available to the Working Group.
5.4 Evaluation
There is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of allyl
isothiocyanate to experimental animals.
In the absence of epidemiological data, no evaluation could be
made of the carcinogenicity of allyl isothiocyanate to humans.
For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.
Subsequent evaluations: Suppl. 7 (1987) (p. 56); Vol. 73 (1999)
Synonyms
- AITC
- AITK
- Allyl isorhodanide
- Allyl isosulphocyanate
- Allylisothiocyanate
- Allyl mustard oil
- Allylsenevol
- Allylsenfol
- Allyl sevenolum
- Allyl thiocarbonimide
- Artificial mustard oil
- Artificial oil of mustard
- Carbospol
- FEMA No. 2034
- 3-Isothiocyanatopropene
- 3-Isothiocyanato-1-propene
- Isothiocyanic acid allyl ester
- NCI-C50464
- Oil of Mustard BPC 1949, Synthetic
- Oleum sinapis
- Oleum sinapis volatile
- 2-Propenyl isothiocyanate
- Propylene-3-isothiocyanate
- Redskin
- Synthetic mustard oil
- Synthetic mustard oil volatile
- Volatile mustard oil
- Volatile oil of mustard
Last updated: 30 September 1999