Mobil Oil Corporation

Ceinwen A Schreiner

Carl R Mackerer

Gary R Blackburn

John F Dooley

A method for rapidly and reliably determining the potential carcinogenic activity of hydrocarbon mixtures which is especially useful for those of petroleum origin. A sample of the mixture is nitrated under conditions effective to convert the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons to their nitrated derivatives, and without separation of the nitrated components, the product is incubated with an inoculum of Salmonella typhimurium tester strain T98. The excessive production of revertant colonies is a measure of the mutagenic activity of the oil, and this measure is shown to correlate with dermal carcinogenic activity.

Method for evaluating mutagenicity

A very rapid, sensitive method if provided for determination of the potential mutagenicity and/or carcinogenicity of certain petroleum oils by nitration of the oil and comparison of the light absorbance of its nitrated material with that obtained from one or more oils of known mutagenicity and/or carcinogenicity.

Assaying of polynuclear aromatic compounds

This invention provides a biochemical method for determining the presence of toxic or mutagenic aldehyde in a test article. A sample of the test article is treated with an aldehyde dehydrogenase, such as formaldehyde dehydrogenase, and the change of growth characteristics of an indicator cell produced by the treatment are used for the determination.

Biochemical assay of aldehydes

A method is provided for rapidly and reliably determining the potential carcinogenic activity of hydrocarbon mixtures which is especially useful for those of petroleum origin. A sample of the mixture is extracted with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). An inoculum of Salmonella typhimurium tester strain T98 is incubated in the presence of an aliquot of the extract together with an optimal amount of induced rat liver homogenate S9. The excessive production of revertant colonies is a measure of the mutagenic activity of the oil, and this measure is shown to correlate with dermal carcinogenic activity.

Growing community of inventors

Meadowbrook, PA, United States of America

Ceinwen A Schreiner