In vitro BALB/3T3 cell transformation assay of nonoxynol‐9 and 1,4‐dioxane

Abstract

The spermicidal surfactant nonoxynol-9 (Igepal CO-630, GAF Corp.) and a potential impurity, 1,4-dioxane, were tested in the in vitro cell transformation assay using BALB/3T3 cells. Two treatment periods, 48 hr and 13 days, were used. Nonoxynol-9, tested at levels up to 10 micrograms/ml, did not induce transformation, whereas dioxane was very active in the induction of type III foci in the cultured BALB/3T3 cells.