In this study the genotoxic activity of catecholestrogens and 16α-hydroxy estrone has been investigated by performing Salmonella strain TA98 and TA100 Ames tests, sister chromatide exchange assays (SCE) and micronucleus assays on human peripheral lymphocytes (CBMN and ARA/CBMN). We found a lack of positive results with micronucleus assays, except for 2-hydroxy estradiol (2-OHE2), which shows a peculiar “bell shaped” trend of micronucleus number versus concentrations. SCE assay suggests weak genotoxic activity of all tested catechol metabolites, except 4-hydroxy estrone (4-OHE1), which also showed negative results by ARA/CBMN.
In this open debate, our results support the hypothesis of a weak genotoxicity, not correlated with the carcinogenetic potential of estrogens.