Carcinogenic potential, levels and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures in indoor and outdoor environments and their implications for air quality standards.

Both the World Health Organization and the UK Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS) have considered benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) as a marker of the carcinogenic potency of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mixture, when recommending their respective guidelines for PAHs in outdoor air. The aim of this research is to compare the concentrations and relative abundance of individual PAH and their contribution to the overall carcinogenic potential of the PAH mixture in indoor and outdoor environments to assess the suitability of the UK air quality standard derived for outdoor air for use as a guideline for indoor environments. Samples were collected onto filters using active sampling in different indoor and outdoor microenvironments. The ratio of individual compounds to BaP, the BaP equivalent concentrations and the percentage contribution of each individual compound to the total carcinogenic potential of the PAH mixture were calculated. Mean concentrations were generally lower indoors (BaP=0.10 ng/m(3)) than outdoors (BaP=0.19 ng/m(3)), with the exception of indoor environments with wood burners (BaP=2.4 ng/m(3)) or ETS (BaP=0.6 ng/m(3)). The ratio of individual PAHs to BaP showed no significant differences between indoors (e.g. DahA/BaP=0.27) and outdoors (DahA/BaP=0.31). The relative contribution of BaP to the PAH overall carcinogenic potency is similar indoors (49%), outdoors (54%) and in the smelter environment (48%) used by EPAQS to derive the UK Air Quality Standard for ambient air. These results suggest the suitability of BaP as a marker for the carcinogenic potential of the PAH mixture irrespective of the environment. Despite small differences in PAH mixture composition indoors and outdoors, the level of protection afforded by the present EPAQS standard is likely to be similar whether it is applied to indoor or outdoor air.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in airborne particulate matter in Curitiba, Brazil and benzo(a)pyrene toxic equivalency factors (TEFs).

The concentration of PAHs in particulate matter was investigated in the city of Curitiba, located in south of Brazil. Urban atmospheric particulate matter was collected at six sampling sites whose characteristics were representative of the prevailing conditions. The concentration of particulate matter varied from 11.02 to 177.27 ng/m(3). Particulate matter was basically composed of PAHs with 3 and 4 aromatic rings and it agrees with results of air quality monitoring performed in other cities around the world. Molecular ratios, such as (Benzo(ghi)Perilene/Indene(cd)Pyrene, B(ghi)P/I(cd)P, indicate that the source of PAHs is gasoline engines in the downtown area and diesel engines in surrounding sites representing a heavy traffic situation. It was also investigated the toxic level of particulate matter using the BaP equivalency factor. The BaP(eq) for all samples was between 0.42 to 1.12 ng/m(3). The equivalency BaP(eq) indicated low health risk associated with exposure to the total PAHs content in environmental air.

[Setting normal levels of benz(a)pyrene in foods]. / Normuvannia vmistu benz(a)pireny u produktakh kharchuvannia.

In the paper, methodological requirements are formulated for validation of permissible levels of benz(a)pyrene (B(a)P) in foodstuffs. A list is submitted of allowable levels of this carcinogen in food products for the population of Ukraine, their specific values being dependent on the accepted tolerance daily done intake and on the structure of the standard food ration. Prevention of B(a)P formation and its elimination from the human habitat together with the use of the modern environmentally appropriate technologies designed to prepare food products will form a basis for stabilization of the permissible dose of the carcinogen, finding its way to the human body as a food component through dietary intake.

[Hygienic assessment of components of smoking fume]. / Gigienicheskaia otsenka komponentov koptil'nogo dyma.

Analyzing the chemical composition of smoking fume has indicated that maximum allowable concentrations (MACs) have been established for 50 of 400 well-known compounds, working area MACs were standardized for 42 of the 50 compounds, the maximum single and daily average concentrations were standardized for 34 and 30 compounds, respectively. All standards were established for 25 compounds. Despite the fact that there a large list of MACs, it is difficult to calculate the objective hygienic risk of smoking smoke since 32 compounds are contained in traces. Hygienic assessment of fume discharges from the smoking chamber by taking into account their mass and MACs demonstrated that phenols, carbonyl compounds, acids, and benz(a)pyrene which should be used to work out the unified hygienic standard are of the greatest importance.

[Carcinogenic effects of the curing smoke]. / O kantserogennom vozdeistvii koptil'nogo dyma.

A list of the carcinogenic substances contained in the fume used in the production of smoked fish and its products is presented. The level of benz(a)pyrene in the smoked foods generally corresponds to the international standards, but it is hundreds times higher in hot-smoked small fish. The cancer risk of smoked products may be reduced in the production of slightly smoked foods or when liquid-smoke devices are used.

[Effect of working conditions in the coke-processing department on the secretory function of the adrenal cortex]. / Wplyw warunków pracy w wydziale weglopochodnych koksowni na wydzielanie kory nadnerczy.

In 85 randomly chosen employees of the coal tar distillation department working at least 5 years, exposed to toxic substances not exceeding MAC except tar substances and benzo(a)pyrene, whose concentrations were high, blood level of cortisol and 17 OHCS and 17 KS excretion in urine were examined. In the most exposed group cortisol level decreased and the 17 OHCS excretion augmented.

[Characteristics of the carcinogenic effect of benzo(a)pyrene after its combined intake and the problems of its standardization in the environment]. / Osobennosti kantserogennogo deistviia benz(a)oirena pri kompleksnom postuplenii v organizm i voprosy normirovaniia ego v ukruzhaiushchei srede.

During the experiments on 952 white random-bred mice a scale of benz(a)pyrene (BP) doses from 10 to 0.0001 mg was studied under isolated peroral, intratracheal and complex effect. Dose-time relationship of carcinogenic effect was described. It was demonstrated that for large doses complex intake of carcinogens was determined by the effect of taking antilogarithms and for threshold doses by independent action. It was concluded that MAC for BP under complex effect should not exceed the sum of its earlier established admissible concentrations for atmospheric air and water reservoirs.