IARC Monographs Volume 129: Gentian Violet, Leucogentian Violet, Malachite Green, Leucomalachite Green, and CI Direct Blue 218

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce that Volume 129 of the IARC Monographs, Gentian violet, leucogentian violet, malachite green, leucomalachite green, and CI Direct Blue 218, is now available online.

All these agents were evaluated by the Working Group for the first time.

Gentian violet and malachite green and their leucometabolites, leucogentian violet and leucomalachite green, have a wide range of uses as dyes and stains, including for textiles, and for biological, medical, forensic, and analytical samples. Gentian violet and malachite green are also antifungal, antiparasitic, and antibacterial agents used in veterinary medicine. Dietary exposure to the leucometabolites via fish consumption may occur if gentian violet or malachite green are used in aquaculture. CI Direct Blue 218 is used as a dye for cellulose, acetate, paper, textiles, and other materials.

The Working Group concluded that gentian violet, leucomalachite green, and CI Direct Blue 218 are possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) and that leucogentian violet and malachite green are not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3).

Visit the Volume 129 webpage