Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Cancer in Man

Abstract

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and Brogan & Partners are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Environmental Health Perspectives.Various substances and industrial processes, surrogates of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are currently classified as human carcinogens. This paper reviews recent epidemiological studies reporting direct evidence of the carcinogenic effects of PAHs in occupationally exposed subjects. Risks of lung and bladder cancer were dose dependent when PAHs were measured quantitatively and truly nonexposed groups were chosen for comparison. These new findings suggest that the current threshold limit value of 0.2 mg/m3 of benzene soluble matter (which indicates PAH exposure) is unacceptable because, after 40 years of exposure, it involves a relative risk of 1.2-1.4 for lung cancer and 2.2 for bladder cancer. Key words: bladder cancer, epidemiology, lung cancer, occupational exposure, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Environ Health Perspect 104: 1166-1170 (1996) According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), soot and tar, untreated and mildly treated mineral oils, and processes used in the production of aluminum and coke or in iron and steel foundries are carcinogenic in humans. Because polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs; namely, hydrocarbons with three or more condensed aromatic rings in which certain carbon atoms are common to two or three rings (1)] are common in these occupational exposures, the findings are currently considered to be indirect evidence of the carcinogenic effects of PAHs (2). In recent epidemiological studies, however, occupational PAH exposure was directly estimated using either the job-exposure matrix (EM) approach or industrial hygiene data collected in a factory. Our aim was therefore to make an appraisal of studies that report a dose-response analysis of PAH levels in relation to cancer risk and to quantify risk with respect to the current threshold limit values (TLV) fixed by the American

Comparative mutagenicity assessment of aerosols in emissions from biofuel combustion

“…PAHs as well as numerous PAH derivatives, i.e., alkylated PAHs, nitro-PAHs, oxygenated PAHs, quinones, hydroxy and hydroxynitro compounds, are produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels such as coal, gasoline, diesel and biofuels (Beak et al, 1991;Matsumoto et al, 1998). The mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of PAHs associated with combustion and ambient aerosols have been conclusively demonstrated through bacterial assays, human cell mutagenicity assays, animal assays and epidemiological studies (Hannigan et al, 1998;Helmig et al, 1992;Kamens et al, 1984;Kleindienst et al, 1986;Mastrangelo et al, 1996;McCrillis et al, 1992;Moller and Alfheim, 1980). The Ames assay test, a plate incorporation test based on genetically engineered microorganisms offers a relatively quick method for mutagenicity assessment and has been widely used as a screening tool for determining health risks associated with emissions, effluents and specific chemicals (Madill et al, 1999;Maron and Ames, 1983).…”

A novel degradation pathway in the assimilation of phenanthrene by Staphylococcus sp. strain PN/Y via meta-cleavage of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid: formation of trans-2,3-dioxo-5-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-pent-4-enoic acid

“…Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a group of priority environmental pollutants, which are ubiquitous contaminants in soils and sediments and are of environmental concern because of their toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic effects (Mastrangelo et al, 1996;Marston et al, 2001;Xue & Warshawsky, 2005). In recent years, the biodegradation of PAHs has received considerable attention and a variety of micro-organisms have been reported to play important roles in the process (Pothuluri & Cerniglia, 1994;Shuttleworth & Cerniglia, 1995;Kanaly & Harayama, 2000;Habe & Omori, 2003;Tortella et al, 2005).…”

Modeling of Influential Predictors of Gastric Cancer Incidence Rates in Golestan Province, North Iran

“…Maybe frequent use of reheating oil can lead to chemical changes on oil components which can act as cancerogenic agents such as acrolein, PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbones) and HCA (Heterocyclic Amines) (Stevens and Maier, 2008;Mastrangelo et al, 1996;Purcaro et al, 2006).…”