@article{article_391629, title={Investigation of the Genotoxic Effects of Benzalkonium Chloride on Human Lymphocytes}, journal={Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty}, volume={38}, pages={13–18}, year={2012}, author={Arıkan, Şener and Gülten, Tuna and Yakut, Tahsin}, keywords={Benzalkonium chloride, Genotoxicity, In vitro micronucleus assay, Lymphocyte culture}, abstract={In this study, the genotoxic effects of benzalkonium chloride, widely used as a disinfective and protective agent, were investigated using micronucleus assay. Whole blood lymphocyte cultures, prepared from healthy, non-smoking male donors were used in the study. The cul-tures were treated with 6 different concentrations of benzalkonium chloride (0.04 mg/L, 0.11 mg/L, 0.33 mg/L, 1 mg/L, 3 mg/L, and 9 mg/L) and the effects on micronucleus formation were investigated. Three healthy donors were included in the study and the experiments were done using two cultures for each concentration. Micronuclei were scored examining 1000 binucleated cells for each culture. When compared to negative control, none of the tested concentrations led to a significant increase in micronucleus levels. In conclusion, ben-zalkonium chloride showed no significant genotoxic effects under our experimental conditions.}, number={1}, publisher={Bursa Uludağ University}