Synthetic azo dyes are widely used in industries. Gerhardt Domagk discovered that the antimicrobial effect of red azo dye Prontosil was caused by the reductively cleaved (azo reduction) product sulfanilamide. The significance of azo reduction is thus revealed. Azo reduction can be accomplished by human intestinal microflora, skin microflora, environmental microorganisms, to a lesser extent by human liver azoreductase, and by nonbiological means. Some azo dyes can be carcinogenic without being cleaved into aromatic amines. However, the carcinogenicity of many azo dyes is due to their cleaved product such as benzidine. Benzidine induces various human and animal tumors. Another azo dye component, p-phenylenediamine, is a contact allergen. Many azo dyes and their reductively cleaved products as well as chemically related aromatic amines are reported to affect human health, causing allergies and other human maladies.

中文翻译：

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偶氮染料与人类健康：综述。

合成偶氮染料广泛用于工业中。Gerhardt Domagk发现，红色偶氮染料Prontosil的抗菌作用是由还原裂解的（偶氮还原）产物磺胺引起的。因此揭示了偶氮还原的重要性。减少偶氮可以通过人肠道微生物区系，皮肤微生物区系，环境微生物来实现，在较小程度上可以通过人肝脏偶氮还原酶以及通过非生物手段来实现。一些偶氮染料可能会致癌，而不会裂解成芳香胺。但是，许多偶氮染料的致癌性是由于其裂解产物，如联苯胺。联苯胺可诱发多种人类和动物肿瘤。另一种偶氮染料成分，对苯二胺是接触过敏原。