Bromocinnamic aldehyde (BCA), an antibacterial/antifungal agent, was tested for its chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity in female Slc:ddY mice. The animals received 0.25%, 1.0% and 4.0% of BCA dissolved in olive oil applied to the shaved back skin area twice a week for 79 weeks. The control group received olive oil alone under similar conditions. In addition to these animals, 5 animals in each group were killed at 6 and 12 months for investigation of the time-related toxic effect of BCA. A slight inhibition of body weight increase and a slight decrease in the survival rate were seen in the 4.0% BCA-treated group. No significant changes were observed in hematological parameters at 6, 12 and 18 months. In chemical biochemistry determination in the blood at 6 and 12 months, a significant decrease in non-esterified fatty acid and phospholipid values was observed in the experimental groups. Histopathologically, necrosis, scabbing, cell infiltration and thickening of the epidermis were noted at the site of application in the 4.0% BCA group. Moreover, extramedullary hematopoiesis and amyloid degeneration were detected in the spleen, while the incidence of adenomas in the lung decreased with a dose-response. These changes seemed to be the result of a non-specific inflammatory reaction to the irritation effects of the agent on the skin. No significant differences in the incidence of tumors were found between the control and experimental groups, not only at the site of application but also in other organs, although lung adenomas decreased dose-dependently in all treated groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)