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Polycyclic aromatic compounds in cod (Gadus morhua) from the Northwest Atlantic and St. Lawrence Estuary.

There is limited information available on levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in major fish populations including populations from the Northwest Atlantic. The cod (Gadus morhua) stocks off eastern Canada form the basis of one of the world's most important fisheries. Muscle tissues of cod collected from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) management Divisions 2J, 3K and 3Ps off Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as three contaminated sites in the Gulf of St. Lawrence were analyzed for total polycyclic aromatic (PAC) by fluorimetry. Concentrations were determined in terms of crude oil and chrysene equivalents in line with recommendations of the International Oceanographic Commission. Overall, relatively low concentrations of PAC were found, the highest values generally being below 0.1 microgram/g (dry weight) in terms of chrysene equivalents. Similarly, only trace levels of a few PAH were detected in composite samples analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It is of interest that the highest levels of PAC were found in fish from NAFO Division 3K, while concentrations in fish from the two contiguous zones, 2J and 3Ps, as well as the Gulf of St. Lawrence, were similar. Division 3K is a major fishing zone and it is important to determine if trawler fleets are important sources of hydrocarbons derived from fossil fuels, in this and similar fishing areas of the world's oceans.

Animals↗

Studies on the metabolism and biological effects of nitropyrene and related nitro-polycyclic aromatic compounds in diploid human fibroblasts.

Nitro derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are produced primarily as the result of incomplete combustion. Nitropyrenes have been identified as primary mutagenic compounds of diesel emission particulate and are tumorigenic in laboratory animals. Since nitropyrenes do not react directly with DNA, their effects presumably are mediated through cellular conversion of the parent compounds into reactive species. For example, 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) is activated by enzymatic reduction to 1-nitrosopyrene (1-NOP), followed by reduction to the hydroxylamine, which undergoes decomposition to yield a nitrenium ion, that reacts with DNA. The cytotoxic effects of 1-nitropyrene and 1-nitrosopyrene were compared in fibroblasts from normal persons, from excision-repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients, and from a patient with an inherited predisposition to malignant melanoma of the skin (hereditary cutaneous malignant melanoma [HCMM]). HCMM cells are more sensitive than normal cells to the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, and they form more DNA adducts per concentration of this agent than do normal cells. However, the HCMM cells exhibit the same sensitivity as normal cells to 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline-1-oxide, which suggests they are more capable than normal cells of metabolizing the parent compound into a more reactive form. On the basis of concentration, 1-NOP was much more cytotoxic than 1-NP. With both compounds, the normal cells exhibited a shoulder on their survival curves that was lacking for the XP cells. The dose of 1-NP giving 37% survival was 46 microM for a series of four normal cell lines, 22 microM for the HCMM cell line tested, and 12 microM for the XP cell line. The slope of the 1-nitropyrene survival curve for XP cells was 2.5 times steeper than the slope of the curve of the normal cells; the slope of the 1-NP survival curve for the HCMM cells was intermediate between the XP cells and the normal fibroblasts. The slope of the 1-nitrosopyrene survival curve for XP cells was also 2.5 times steeper than that for the normal cells, but the HCMM cells showed a normal response. If the resistance of normal cells to the cytotoxic effect of these compounds reflects their ability to remove potentially cytotoxic adducts from their DNA before these lesions cause cell death, normal cells should require a higher initial number of DNA adducts than XP cells do to cause a particular degree of cell killing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Carcinogenicity Tests↗

Charge migration in dicationic electrophiles and its application to the synthesis of aza-polycyclic aromatic compounds.

[reaction: see text] Superacid-promoted reactions of dicationic electrophiles have been studied, and the positive charge centers are found to migrate apart in a predictable manner. Using isotopic labeling the charge migration is found in one system to occur through successive deprotonation-reprotonation steps. The charge migration chemistry is the basis for new general synthetic route to aza-polycyclic aromatic compounds.

Aza Compounds↗

Comparison of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and acetanilide 4-hydroxylase induction by polycyclic aromatic compounds in human and mouse cell lines.

The human MCF-7 and the mouse Hepa-1 cell culture lines were compared for aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and acetanilide 4-hydroxylase inducibility by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and benzo[a]anthracene (BA) and TCDD- and BA-specific binding in the cytosol and nucleus. The effective concentration of BA in the growth medium required to induce either enzyme to 50% of its maximally inducible activity (EC50) was the same (5-11 microM) in both MCF-7 and Hepa-1 cells. On the other hand, the EC50 for TCDD in MCF-7 cells (5-25 nM) was more than 40-fold greater than that in Hepa-1 cells (0.4 to 0.6 nM). P1-450- and P3-450-specific mouse cDNA probes were used to quantitate mRNA induction in the Hepa-1 cell line. P1-450 mRNA was induced markedly by TCDD and benzo[a] anthracene, whereas P3-450 mRNA was induced negligibly. A P1-450-specific human cDNA probe was used to quantitate P1-450 mRNA induction in the MCF-7 cell line. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase inducibility by TCDD or BA always paralleled P1-450 mRNA inducibility in either the mouse or human line. Although the cytosolic Ah receptor in Hepa-1 cells was easily detected by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, gel permeation chromatography, and anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, the cytosolic receptor cannot be detected in MCF-7 cells. Following in vivo exposure of cultures to radiolabeled TCDD, the intranuclear concentration of inducer-receptor complex was at least fifty times greater in Hepa-1 than MCF-7 cultures. The complete lack of measurable cytosolic receptor and almost totally absent inducer-receptor complex in the nucleus of MCF-7 cells was, therefore, out of proportion to its capacity for aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and acetanilide 4-hydroxylase inducibility. This MCF-7 line should provide an interesting model for a better understanding of the mechanisms of drug-metabolizing enzyme induction by polycyclic aromatic compounds, including the Ah receptor-mediated mechanism.

Animals↗

Effect of polycyclic aromatic compounds and phorbol esters on ornithine decarboxylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities in mouse liver.

Single i.p. injections of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC; 50 mg/kg) administered to inbred C57BL/6 mice or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD; 100 micrograms/kg) to DBA/2 mice gave an increase in the hepatic activities of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) with peaks occurring by 12 and 48 hr, respectively. A single i.p. dose of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA; 100 micrograms/kg) enhanced the activity of ODC about 70-fold within 12 hr in C57BL/6 mice and 18-fold within 24 hr in DBA/2 mice without affecting AHH activity markedly. 4-O-Methyl-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (100 micrograms/kg) raised ODC activity to about 25% of the TPA-treated value in C57BL/6 mice; in DBA/2 mice, TPA and 4-O-methyl-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induced ODC activity to roughly the same level. Benzo(e)pyrene (50 mg/kg) failed to affect ODC and AHH activities significantly in either strain. The inducing effect of TPA on ODC activity was potentiated by a simultaneous administration of MC to C57BL/6 mice; combined TPA and TCDD to DBA/2 mice exerted an additive effect on hepatic ODC activity. Difluoromethylornithine administered i.p. effectively inhibited the induction of ODC activity elicited by TPA, MC, or TCDD either alone or in various combinations but did not interfere with AHH induction. These data indicate that different regulatory factors are involved in the ODC induction process elicited by TPA and polycyclic aromatic compounds and that MC and TCDD may induce ODC activity by different mechanisms. The results also confirm our earlier findings in rat skin and cells in culture which suggest that the ODC and AHH induction processes can occur independently of each other. Additionally, there is a strain-related difference in sensitivity with regard to ODC-inducing activity of TPA in the livers of C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice.

Animals↗

Improved detection of polycyclic aromatic compounds in complex mixtures by liquid chromatographic fractionation on poly(divinylbenzene) prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Application to the analysis of diesel particulates.

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) are preferentially retained over other compound classes during high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on poly(divinylbenzene) (PDVB) columns with a dichloromethane mobile phase. PAC retention during HPLC with PDVB/CH2Cl2 is governed by a multi-mode mechanism that has been previously described. This enhanced retention of PACs makes PDVB columns useful for isolating a PAC fraction from highly complex mixtures such as the emissions from fossil-fuels combustion. The cleaned-up PAC fraction yields a simple chromatogram with easily identified and quantified peaks without significant compound loss or danger of contamination. We illustrate the use of this clean-up method for the isolation of the PAC fraction from a standard reference diesel particulate sample.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Characterization of monofluorinated polycyclic aromatic compounds by 1H, 13C and 19F NMR spectroscopy.

Monofluorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (F-PAHs) have attracted much attention in analytical, environmental, toxicological and mechanistic studies because of their physico-chemical properties, which are closely similar to those of the parent PAHs. Because of this, full NMR characterization has become of interest. Complete 1H, 13C and 19F NMR chemical shifts, and also 1J(H,C), (n)J(C,F), (n)J(H,F) and (n)J(H,H) coupling constants, have been assigned for the F-PAHs 1-fluoronaphthalene, 2-fluorofluorene, 5-fluoroacenaphthylene, 2-fluorophenanthrene, 3-fluorophenanthrene, 3-fluorofluoranthene, 1-fluoropyrene, 1-fluorochrysene, 2-fluorochrysene, 3-fluorochrysene and 9-fluorobenzo[k]fluoranthene. To allow comparison with the corresponding parent PAHs, the 1H and 13C chemical shifts of acenaphthylene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene and benzo[k]fluoranthene were determined. Chemical shift increments and the effects on the coupling constants from the fluorine substitution are discussed.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) in leaf lettuce.

Twenty-three samples of leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) cultivated in private gardens in southern Finland were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and derivatives. The total PAH concentrations varied from 4.8 to 94 micrograms/kg fresh weight. Nitro derivatives of PAH were detected in only five samples. One lettuce sample was also analyzed for PAH oxy-derivatives. 9H-Fluoren-9-one (1.3 microgram/kg) and 6 H-benzo[cd]pyren-6-one (0.3 microgram/kg) were found. The profiles of PAH in lettuce were compared with those in ambient air. It was concluded that PAH in lettuce originate from deposition of PAH-containing particles present in ambient air.

Finland↗

Determination of polycyclic aromatic compounds in fish tissue.

A method is presented for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs), and basic polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles (PANHs) in fish. The analytical procedure includes Soxhlet extraction of prepared fish tissue with methylene chloride followed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using Bio-beads SX-3. For PAHs/PASHs, further cleanup is performed using adsorption chromatography on Florisil (5% water deactivated) and elution with hexane. For basic PANHs further cleanup of the fish extracts after GPC is achieved using liquid-liquid partitioning with 6 M hydrochloric acid and chloroform and then basifying the aqueous phase and extracting it with chloroform. Analysis of fortified fish samples was performed using capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Good agreement was observed for both methods of analysis when applied to fish samples fortified with PAHs, PASHs and basic PANHs at 0.1 to 1 microgram/g, suggesting that the method is effective at removing interfering biogenic compounds prior to analysis. Average recovery of PAHs/PASHs from fortified fish tissue was 87% and 70% for fish tissue fortified at 0.24-1.1 and 0.024-0.11 microgram/g, respectively. Average recovery for basic PANHs was 97% for fish fortified at 1.2-1.4 micrograms/g.

Animals↗

Effects and uptake of polycyclic aromatic compounds in snails (Helix aspersa).

The International Standardization Organization recently launched a soil toxicity test with snails (Helix aspersa). We assessed the sensitivity of this test for seven polycyclic aromatic compounds. Control animals had 100% survival and low variability for growth measurements. Maximum exposure concentrations of 2800 mg/kg (4000 mg/kg for acridine) had no effect on survival. Similarly, growth (biomass and shell size) was not affected by pyrene, fluoranthene, fluorene, carbazole, phenanthrene, or acridine, whereas dibenzothiophene gave a 10% effect concentration of 1600 mg/kg. Measured internal concentrations of carbazole, dibenzothiophene, and acridine increased with increasing soil concentrations, but biota-soil accumulation factors were low (0.002-0.1). Compared to previously tested organisms, with all being exposed in the same soil type and under similar test conditions, the H. aspersa test was relatively insensitive to all substances.

Animals↗

Syntheses of biologically active natural products and leading compounds for new pharmaceuticals employing effective construction of a polycyclic skeleton.

Cascade reactions are useful methods for the construction of polycyclic skeletons, which are important cores for biological activities. A variety of cascade reactions carried out under multiple reaction conditions, such as pericyclic, polar, radical, and transition metal-catalyzed reaction conditions, have been investigated. Culmorin, pentalenene, pentalenic acid, deoxypentalenic acid, longiborneol, cedrandiol, 8,14-cedranoxide, atisirene, atisine, and estrane-type steroids were synthesized via the intramolecular double Michael reaction. Aza double Michael reaction was applied to the syntheses of tylophorine, epilupinine, tacamonine, and paroxetine. Furthermore, sequential Michael and aldol reactions were performed in both intramolecular and intermolecular manners, leading to the formation of polycyclic compounds fused to a four-membered ring. Synthesis of paesslerin A utilizing a multicomponent cascade reaction revealed an error in the proposed structure. Unique cascade reactions carried out under radical and transition metal-catalyzed reaction conditions were also investigated. With the combination of several cascade reactions, serofendic acids and methyl 7beta-hydroxykaurenoate, both of which have neuroprotective activity, were synthesized in a selective manner.

Alkaloids↗

Exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic compounds and health risk assessment for diesel-exhaust exposed workers.

OBJECTIVES: Workers' exposure to diesel exhaust in a bus depot, a truck repair workshop and an underground tunnel was determined by the measuring of elemental carbon (EC) and 15 carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) proposed by the US Department of Health and Human Services/National Toxicology Program (NTP). Based on these concentration data, the genotoxic PAC contribution to the diesel-exhaust particle (DEP) lung-cancer risk was calculated. METHOD: Respirable particulate matter was collected during the summer and winter of 2001 (except for in the underground situation) and analysed by coulometry for EC and by GC-MS methods for PACs. The use of potency equivalence factors (PEFs) allowed the studied PAC concentrations to be expressed as benzo[a]pyrene equivalents (B[a]P(eq)). We then calculated the lung-cancer risk due to PACs and DEPs by multiplying the B[a]P(eq) and EC concentrations by the corresponding unit risk factor. The ratio of these two risks values has been considered as an estimate of the genotoxic contribution to the DEP cancer risk. RESULTS: For the bus depot and truck repair workshop, exposure to EC and PACs has been shown to increase by three to six times and ten times, respectively, during winter compared to summer. This increase has been attributed mainly to a decrease in ventilation during the cold. With the PEF approach, the B[a]P(eq) concentration is five-times higher than if only benzo[ a]pyrene (B[a]P) is considered. Dibenzopyrenes contribute an important part to this increase. A simple calculation based on unit risk factors indicates that the studied PAC contribution to the total lung-cancer risk attributed to DEPs is in the range of 3-13%. CONCLUSIONS: The 15 NTP PACs represent a small but non-negligible part of lung-cancer risk with regard to diesel exposure. From this point of view, the dibenzopyrene family are important compounds to be considered.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Effects of polycyclic aromatic compounds on the drought tolerance of Folsomia fimetaria (Collembola, Isotomidae).

Drought tolerance (survival at 98.2% relative humidity and 20 degress C) was investigated for adult individuals of the springtail Folsomia fimetaria after three weeks of exposure to different polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). Seven PACs were investigated (acridine, dibenzofuran, carbazole, fluorene, dibenzothiophene, fluoranthene, and pyrene), with each substance used at several exposure concentrations. Sublethal concentrations of dibenzothiophene, fluorene, fluoranthene, and pyrene caused a dose-related decrease in drought tolerance in exposed adults, whereas no such relationship was found for acridine, dibenzofuran, and carbazole. The organisms used in the drought tolerance study were taken directly from standard ecotoxicity tests that had just been completed, hence the concentrations causing subsequent effects on drought tolerance and those affecting survival and reproduction in the ecotoxicity tests could be compared. Some of the tested substances significantly reduced the drought tolerance of F. fimetaria at concentrations that had little effect on survival, indicating a synergistic effect of the two stressors. However, drought tolerance was affected at concentrations below the threshold value for toxicity in standard tests (no-observed-effect concentration for reproduction) only for dibenzothiophene. In the field, soil organisms exposed to contaminants also face multiple environmental stressors such as drought and cold. Because the reduced drought tolerance is a side effect of chemical exposure, such effects should be considered when extrapolating from laboratory to field conditions.

Adaptation, Physiological↗