Abstract
Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAH) and N-heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (azaarenes) are as ubiquitous in the environment as their parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds, although concentrations are commonly lower. Some of the NPAH and azaarenes are carcinogenic in mammals. Little is known, however, about their carcinogenicity and cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) induction potency in fish. In this study, CYP1A induction potencies, determined as ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity, and the cytotoxicities of 12 NPAH and 12 azaarenes were assessed in fish hepatoma cells PLHC-1. Compared to the structurally analogous PAH, 2-nitronaphthalene, 3-nitrofluoranthene, 1,6-dinitropyrene, benzo(a)acridine, benzo(h)quinoline and 2-azafluoranthene showed significantly higher induction potencies, whereas the other compounds showed equal or lower activity. In the case of the nitrated PAH an elevation of the half-maximal EROD induction (EC 50) correlates with an increased maximal length of the molecule due to the additional nitro-groups. These results in connection with the evaluation of environmental samples indicate that the contribution of NPAH and azaarenes to the overall CYP1A induction potencies in PAH contaminated sites must be taken into account.
Published Version
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