Risk assessment for mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by a screening strategy based on structure-activity relationships

α,β-Unsaturated compounds are ubiquitous and are formed endogenously. They form DNA adducts and are a constant source of DNA damage. A speedy screening strategy based on structure-activity relationships and a battery of prescreening tests for a rapid and reliable assessment of the role of these compounds in mutagenesis and carcinogenesis is presented and discussed. In this screening strategy, time-consuming and expensive animal tests are replaced by in vitro test with bacteria and cell cultures. The results of the mutagenicity and genotoxicity tests, as well as the results of the binding studies of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with DNA components, and the corresponding structure-activity relationships, are presented.