AN EVALUATION OF THE GENOTOXIC PROPERTIES OF SOME CHOSEN DYES USING THE MICRONUCLEUS TEST IN-VIVO

The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and the pol ychromatic to normochromatic erythrocyte ratio was studied in BalbC mi ce treated with four azo dyes: Direct Blue 74, Direct Blue 296, Direct Blue 297 and Direct Green 98 at two (40 and 80% LD(50)/kg body weight ) concentrations. None of the studied compounds revealed a genotoxic a ctivity in the micronucleus test. However, it was found that two dyes, Direct Blue 297 at doses 40% and 80% LD(50) and Direct Green 98 at do se 80% LD(50), cause a significant decrease in the ratio of polychroma tic to normochromatic erythrocytes in bone marrow of mice, which means that at the doses specified above they can affect the proliferation o f the blood cells.