A federal interagency committee has recommended that the National Toxicology Program review and possibly test two fiber brighteners, an intermediate chemical in manufacturing, some cosmetics, a natural oil used as a food additive, an ingredient in some spices, three herbs -- comfrey, goldenseal and saw palmetto -- and a fertilizer, for their potential to cause cancer or reproductive and developmental problems.

The NTP, a program headquartered at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, announced these and other interagency recommendations for testing today, and sought public and scientific comment and data.

NIEHS and NTP Director Kenneth Olden said, "A recommendation for testing does not necessarily mean a substance is a carcinogen or mutagen but often reflects -- as in several of these cases -- that substances have gone into widespread use with out as much testing as, in retrospect, we would like."

The Interagency Committee for Chemical Evaluation and Coordination recommended study of: 2-Acetylpyridine, a fragrance material, direct food additive and constituent of natural essential oils;

Myristicin, a naturally occurring substance in such spices as black pepper, anise, nutmeg and mace and in carrots and parsley;

2-Chloropyridine, an intermediate chemical in the manufacture of some cosmetics as well as pharmaceutical and agricultural products with considerable occupational exposure;

Glycoluril, a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer whose resins have also be used in paint and other coatings;

4-Methoxy-N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide, a fluorescent brightening agent for synthetic fibers and a coating for specialized papers, and

7-(2H-Napthol[1,2-d]triazol-2-yl)-3-phenylcoumarin, also a fabric brightener but also used in plastics, photographic film, toners and food packaging.

Three herbs, comfrey, goldenseal and saw palmetto.

Comfrey has been commercially avai
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Contact: Sandy Lange
Lange@niehs.nih.gov
919 541-0539
NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
3-Feb-1998