Evaluation of the Dermal Carcinogenic Potential of Re‐refined Base Stocks Using the Modified Ames Assay, PAC Analysis and the 32P‐Postlabeling Assay for DNA Adduct Induction

The standard method for assessing the carcinogenicity of lubricating oil base stocks is the mouse skin-painting bioassay. This assay has the advantage of directly measuring the endpoint of interest, dermal carcinogenicity, but has the drawback of being time-consuming and expensive. For this reason, a variety of biological and chemical assays have been developed as predictive alternatives to the in vivo assay. This publication describes the application of three such methods to the assessment of carcinogenic potential of hydrotreated, re-refined oils: the modified Ames test,1,2 the analytical determination of 3–7-ring polycyclic aromatic compound content3 and the 32P-postlabeling assay for DNA adduct induction.4© 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.