Genotoxicity is a property possessed by some substances that makes them harmful to the genetic information contained in organisms, and it is important that RIFM carry out strict tests on every fragrance ingredient used to ensure safety.
While there are many different factors that can affect DNA, RNA, and other genetic materials, the property of genotoxicity only applies to those substances that actually cause harm to the genetic information.
Risk assessment responsibility
It is RIFM’s responsibility to carry out risk assessments to ensure consumer safety, and with this move it says the use of BlueScreen HC provides ‘accurate, sensitive results that are efficiently integrated’ into its testing cascade and enables more efficient fragrance material evaluation.
"We found BlueScreen HC to be a very useful tool in our fragrance material evaluation process" says RIFM president, Dr David Wilcox.
As such, the research institute are now working closely with Gentronix on the assessment of fragrance materials for use in a wide range of consumer products.
Gentronix Commercial Director, Dr Steve Beasley comments: "We have been impressed with the scientific rigor that RIFM brings to the safety evaluation of fragrance materials and their assessment of new technologies such as BlueScreen HC.”
The technology
Gentronix's early screening technology is a specific, sensitive human cell based assay, and is used to screen chemicals for their potential to cause damage to DNA.
Based on technology already used in the pharmaceutical industry, BlueScreen HC is used to provide a rapid assessment of potential hazard across diverse chemical collections in the assessment of new chemicals that are candidates for product development.
The assay evaluates the up-regulation of a key gene's, GADD45a, response to a chemical that causes damage to, or interferes with, DNA. It measures the luminescence generated from the enzyme Gaussia Luciferase from the marine crustacean Gaussia princeps.
The gene is incorporated into the human TK6 cells used in the assay and linked to GADD45a production.