Toxicokinetics - trdoer40181

Toxicokinetics

Like other PAH compounds, chrysene is oxidized by liver enzymes to form

water-soluble derivatives that can be excreted in urine. No information is

available regarding dermal or oral absorption coefficients. Because of their high

lipid solubility, PAHs are believed to be distributed throughout the body.

Relative to other tissues, they tend to localize in body fat and fatty tissues.

Several monohydroxyl and dihydrodiol derivatives of chrysene have been

reported (IARC 1983). Epoxides of the 1,2-dihydrodiol and 3,4-dihydrodiol have

also been reported (IARC 1983). The 1,2-dihydrodiol and 1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide

have been shown to be mutagenic in bacterial and mammalian cells (IARC 1983)

and inducers of pulmonary adenomas in newborn mice (IARC 1983). In addition,

the 1,2-dihydrodiol has been shown to be a tumor initiating agent on mouse skin

(1983). The 1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide is believed to be the metabolite of chrysene that

forms adducts with DNA (IARC 1983).

Ecological effects

The reader is requested to review the toxicity profile for PAHs for

information regarding ecological effects.

References

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). (1983). "IARC

monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to

humans." Polynuclear aromatic compounds, Part 1, Chemical, environmental

and experimental data, Vol 32. World Health Organization, Lyon, France.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (1984). "Health effects assessment for

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons," EPA-540/1-86/013, Cincinnati, OH.

D29

Appendix D Toxicological Profiles