Abstract: Purpose : To study the mutagenicity for a hair dye as a part of toxicological evaluation. Methods : The Ames test and chromosome aberration test in vitro in CHL cells were used. Results : At the dose of 2 500μg/ plate to 5 000 μg/ plate with the S9mix , the sample can induce the mutation of the strain TA98 , the number of reverse mutation bacteria clone was 2～3 times higher than the number of spontaneous mutation bacteria clone. CHL cell chromosome aberration test showed that at the concentration of 300μg/ ml without the S9mix , and at concentration of 600μg / ml and 1 000μg/ml with or without the S9mix , the sample can induce the chromosome aberration. The rate of chromosome aberration in treated group was significantly higher than that in the negative control group. Conclusion : The oxidative hair dye tested has certain genetic toxicity.

Key words: Oxidative hair dye, CHL cell, Ames test, Chromosome aberration, Mutagenicity