Re: [Killietalk] acriflavine 2 - Dyes

[scott douglass <scottdouglass2000 at yahoo_com.au>]

Acriflavine forms dimers with DNA/RNA so mutations are
logical from the chemistry of the stuff. Although DNA
is actually very good at repairing itself, so how
dangerous these things are is hard to quantify. From
what I know Acriflavine was listed as a carcinogen
after a study was done where lab rats were fed
Acriflavine for two years and then had tumors. Given
enough time and patience, most things will cause
tumors. That being said some such as Acriflavine I
would be much more cautious of, especially in the case
of eggs or anywhere there is lots of cell division
going on. So I would never use the stuff for
protecting eggs.
Methylene blue is much safer, Thyazin dyes are thought
to work by blocking the cell pores and messing up the
ion channels ie. Na+ and hence the voltages across the
cell membranes. It is also used as a medicine for
Methemoglobinemia (Blue blood) and some poisonings. 
But either way I would not recommend self medication
with your fish medicines and would be carful in
handling any of them, and more so if you are not
exactly sure what they do.
Malachite green is similar to the Triphenylmethane
Dyes and some of them are known serious carcinogens,
or more specifically Malachite Green is biotransformed
into some serious carcinogens, it is also very
poisonous to mammals. But it is one of those things
still argued about since it is used so much in
aquaculture. Although the residues remain in farmed
fish, so I think it is banned in the US for use on
food fish. 
Incidentally I think the FDA over there is going to
revise all the aquarium pharmaceuticals for 2006. 

One of the other Scott's who washed up in Singapore.  

Scott Douglass 

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