IPCS INCHEM Home

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations

BENZYL ACETATE

VOL.: 40 (1986) (p. 109)

CAS No.: 140-11-4
Chem. Abstr. Name: Acetic acid, phenylmethyl ester

5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation

5.1 Exposure

Benzyl acetate has been identified in several fruits, such as bael fruit (from the Aegle marmelos tree) and quince (Cydonia vulgaris), and in a mushroom (Agaricus species). It is a major volatile constituent of the flowers of a number of plants, including jasmine (Jasminium grandiflorum L.), hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides), ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and others. It has been used as a food additive in fruit flavours and as a component of perfumes since the early 1900s and is widely used as a fragrance in soaps, detergents and incense. There is widespread human exposure to benzyl acetate by ingestion, skin application and inhalation.

5.2 Experimental data

Benzyl acetate was tested for carcinogenicity by oral intubation in one experiment in mice of both sexes and in one experiment in rats of both sexes. In the study in mice, increased incidences of liver adenomas and of combined liver adenomas and carcinomas were observed in animals of each sex; the incidence of carcinomas of the liver alone was not statistically significantly increased in animals of either sex. An increased incidence of forestomach tumours was observed in mice of each sex. An increased incidence of acinar-cell adenomas of the pancreas was observed in male rats.

No data were available to evaluate the reproductive effects or prenatal toxicity of benzyl acetate to experimental animals.

Benzyl acetate was reported to give negative results in the Bacillus subtilis rec assay. It was not mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium in the presence or absence of an exogenous metabolic system and did not induce sister chromatid exchanges or chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells in the presence or absence of a metabolic system. Benzyl acetate was reported to be mutagenic in mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells in the presence of a metabolic system.

5.3 Human data

No case report or epidemiological study of the carcinogenicity of benzyl acetate was available to the Working Group.

5.4 Evaluation

There is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of benzyl acetate to experimental animals.

No evaluation could be made of the carcinogenicity of benzyl acetate to humans.

For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.

Subsequent evaluation: Vol. 71 (1999)

Synonyms


Last updated: 13 April 1999




























    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Benzyl acetate (ICSC)
       Benzyl acetate (FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 44a)
       Benzyl acetate (WHO Food Additives Series 26)
       Benzyl acetate (WHO Food Additives Series 32)
       Benzyl acetate (WHO Food Additives Series 37)
       BENZYL ACETATE (JECFA Evaluation)
       Benzyl Acetate  (IARC Summary & Evaluation, Volume 71, 1999)