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Formation of mutagens from the atmospheric photoxidants of PAH and their occurrence in ambient air. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6918293
Nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) lactones may be responsible for a significant portion of the mutagenicity of particulate matter present in California's atmosphere. These compounds are formed in the air by reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrogen oxide gases. Simulating ambient California air, smog chamber studies were conducted on three PAHs: napthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene. The resulting chamber contents were fractionated by liquid chromatography. The most mutagenic fractions were chemical anlayzed. For phenanthrene, most of the mutagenicity was due to a nitrolactone (2-nitro-dibenzopyranone), which was found to be a highly potent mutagen. Analysis of ambient particulate matter confirmed the presence of this and other PAH nitro-lactones. For naphthalene, high levels of vapor-phase nitro-naphthalenes were found, and shown to have unexpectedly high mutagenicity activity.
Research Organization:
California Univ., Riverside, CA (United States). Statewide Air Pollution Research Center
OSTI ID:
6918293
Report Number(s):
PB-95-104931/XAB; CNN: ARB-A132-075
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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