Carcinogenic action of the intermediates of fluorescent whitening agents, 5-nitroacenaphthene and 5-aminoacenaphthene

Abstract

In recent years some of the aromatic amines such as 5-nitroacenaphthene and 5-aminoacenaphthene have been in use in industry as intermediates of fluorescent whitening agents.
Experiments were made on mice, by the author, to investigate possibilities of carcinogenicity and the results are as follows: these chemicals injected intraperitoneally into mice for 18 months induced malignant tumours such as leukemia, recticulum cell sarcoma, etc. in about 40% of the mice and wax pellets containing 5-aminoacenaphthene, when implanted in the bladders of mice revealed a mild carcinogenic effect on the ephithelium.
These results suggest that the use of these new aromatic amines in modern industry should be revaluated in order to prevent occupational bladder cancer that may occur among industrial workers.