Analysis of cyclopentafused isomers of benz(a)anthracene in wood smoke.

A previously-unidentified peak occurring in chromatograms of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fraction from wood smoke particulate extracts analysed by capillary gas chromatography on a DB-5 column was found to correspond in retention index and molecular mass either to benzo(a)fluoranthene or to benzo(1)aceanthrylene, one of a series of four novel and highly mutagenic cyclopentafused isomers of benz(a)anthracene. Detailed subfractionation, and re-analysis on a liquid crystal capillary column, indicated that the identity of this peak was most likely to be benzo(a)fluoranthene, a compound not previously reported in woodsmoke.