Genotoxic effect of thiocarbamide — problems of genetic safety

Thiocarbamide (TC) is increasingly used in many industries and agriculture. However, most of the data available in the literature (including materials on the assessment of mutagenic and teratogenic activities, as well as reproductive toxicity) are haphazard, obtained in the middle of the last century and do not comply with modern rules for studying the safety of chemical compounds. On this basis, IARC experts determined hazard class 3 for TC in 1979 and then in 2001.

The study aims to analyze the literature data to identify gaps in knowledge about the biological activity of TC and to describe a possible system for planning new research on the genetic safety of TC within the framework of modern experimental approaches. The authors carried out an analysis of 55 literature sources, which is almost all the materials published during the entire study of the biological effects of TC.

The main disadvantages of the conducted research are the lack of a systematic approach and the inconsistency of the choice of research methods with modern rules for studying the biological effects of chemical compounds. The variety of models and the fragmentary nature of the available data do not allow us to understand the mechanisms of the biological effects of TC.

The literature review includes almost all publications on the biological activity of TC available in the open press. The analysis of these data demonstrates extensive gaps in current knowledge about the biological effects of TC, the mechanisms of their formation and development. To fill in these gaps, it is especially important to study in detail the long-term effects of TC in humans and to develop a system of safe regulations for this contact. The analysis of the global TC market demonstrates a pronounced tendency to expand the sphere of human contact with this substance. The results of experiments on biological models prove a high probability of polymorphism of TK sensitivity genes, which, in turn, justifies the need for systematic research using all methods of genetic toxicology. Such comprehensive studies will make it possible to identify genetic markers of sensitivity to TC, which will make possible a scientifically sound selection of personnel for whom contact with TC is the least dangerous.

Ethics. The conducted research did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Contributions:
Ingel F.I. — research concept and design, writing of the text; editing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Konyashkina M.A.— writing and editing the text, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Mamonov R.A. — text editing, approval of the final version of the article;
Yudin S.M. — approval of the final version of the article.

Funding. The study was carried out within the Framework of the state assignment of the Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks, FMBA of Russia and had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 09.09.2025 / Accepted: 15.09.2025 / Published: 30.10.2025

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