Further investigations into the genotoxicity of 2,6-xylidine and one of its key metabolites.

The metabolite of several amide anaesthetics, 2,6-xylidine, is a possible human (Group 2B) carcinogen and induced nasal tumours in rats after dietary administration. However, published papers on the genotoxicity of 2,6-xylidine in vitro have given inconsistent results. It has been proposed that the genotoxicity of 2,6-xylidine is dependent on its metabolism to a key metabolite dimethylphenyl N-hydroxylamine (DMHA), which would then be further converted to form a reactive nitrenium ion by phase 2 (mainly acetylation) metabolism.