Four population-based case control studies have examined associations of carbon tetrachloride with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, brain cancer, female breast cancer and intraocular melanoma. Findings were generally unremarkable. In a fifth case control study, which examined several cancers, no association was found with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, although the power to detect an increased risk was low. In one study in mice by inhalation, an increased incidence of phaeochromocytomas was reported. Carbon tetrachloride induces hepatic cell proliferation and DNA synthesis.
Carbon tetrachloride has a mutagenic effect and induces aneuploidy in several in-vitro systems.
There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of carbon tetrachloride. For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation .