Analysis of the aneuploidy inducing capacity of 2-chlorobenzylidene malonitrile (CS) and metabolites in V79 Chinese hamster cells.

The aneuploidy inducing capacity of 2-chlorobenzylidene malonitrile (CS), a chemical used as a riot control agent, and its hydrolysis products o-chlorobenzaldehyde and malonitrile was studied at various exposure conditions in V79 Chinese hamster cells. Chromosomes were counted in metaphase preparations with preserved cytoplasm. A significant increase in the number of aneuploid cells was found after CS and o-chlorobenzaldehyde exposure but not after malonitrile exposure. o-chlorobenzaldehyde, which also introduced high levels of polyploid cells, seems to be an important metabolite for the aneuploidogenic effectiveness of CS.