detection of carcinogens

[deleted-305736]

i am planning to do an experiment to find amount of carcinogens in reheated oil. Are there any tests that I can do at home? I have found many tests on detection of carcinogens (aldehydes), but those chemicals are only available to schools or institutions. Please help.
Thank you,
Cookiecupcake

[deleted-291782]

Hello,

One test that I have come across for detecting carcinogens is the Ames test, which essentially uses different strains of Salmonella bacteria that carry different mutations that affect amino acid synthesis to determine whether or not a certain chemical can restore the synthetic capability of the mutants. However, this type of experiment is best performed in a university-level laboratory, since you could potentially be working with carcinogenic agents, and are working with modified cell lines. What types of oils are you looking to test? Is there any way that you could get access to a laboratory to be able to do these types of experiments with input from your instructor?

Let us know what further questions you have and we will help.

[deleted-305736]

I will be testing canola, vegetable, sunflower, palm, corn oil, coconut oil, and possibly more. I am afraid that I do not have access to a laboratory. I came across 2,4 DNP Testing for Aldehydes and Ketones. Would this work for this testing? Do you know of any others that I could perform?
Thank you.

[deleted-291782]

Hello,

I have relayed your question to see if other experts can also weigh in on this. I have found several tests that you can do (see the link below):

http://academics.wellesley.edu/Chemistr ... etone.html

Note that the 2,4 DNP test you mentioned is also in this list, however, I am not sure which of these you may be able to safely do at home if you do not have previously prepared reagents to do the experiment. Do you already know how you want to perform/do the experiments with the oils you mentioned?

I will follow up again once I get more information.