Genotoxicity study of CS (ortho-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile) in Salmonella, Drosophila, and mice. Failure to detect mutagenic effects.

The lacrimatory agent CS was examined for genotoxic properties. In vitro, Salmonella typhimurium was exposed to CS at concentrations up to 1.5 mg per plate and reverse mutations were assayed. In vivo: male Drosophilae were fed with CS and sex-linked recessive lethal mutations in sperm cells were assayed using the Basc test. Further, mice were exposed to CS by oral or intraperitoneal administration; bone marrow erythrocytes were analysed for chromosomal mutations by means of the micronucleus test. All experiments failed to show a mutagenic activity of CS.