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Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

The genotoxicity of anthracene has been examined in a large number of studies. The great majority of these studies, which involved examination of its ability to induce DNA damage, point mutations, chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges and morphological cell transformation, using systems of varying complexity ranging from bacteria in vitro, through host-mediated bacterial studies, lower eukaryotes, and mammalian cells in vitro, to in vivo rodent studies, have negative results. Many of the genotoxicity tests involving anthracene were conducted in the context of inter-laboratory and assay-comparison studies, based on common, well defined protocols and, for this reason, the trend towards negative outcomes must be considered valid. Occasional reports of marginally or inconsistently positive responses do not seem sufficient to overturn the overall conclusion that anthracene is not genotoxic.

Furthermore, there was consistent absence of any genotoxic activity in numerous in-vivo assays.


Endpoint Conclusion: No adverse effect observed (negative)

Justification for classification or non-classification

Based on experimental evidence, no classification as to mutagenicity required.