Analysis and toxicity of 59 PAH in petrogenic and pyrogenic environmental samples including dibenzopyrenes, 7H-benzo[c]fluorene, 5-methylchrysene and 1-methylpyrene

Richter-Brockmann S, Achten C

Abstract

In this study 59 PAH were analyzed in samples of petrogenic andpyrogenic sources as well as mixed environmental matrices. Among theanalytes, PAH of molecular weights from 128 Da to 302 Da in alkylated andin native form were included. Results show that non-EPA PAH make up 69.3- 95.1 % of the overall toxic equivalents (TEQ) as based on the toxicequivalent factors (TEF) of 24 PAH. Particularly 7H-benzo[c]fluorene,dibenzopyrene isomers and alkylated PAH (in particular 5-methylchryseneand 1-methylpyrene) turned out to have a huge impact on the toxicity andmust not be neglected in future risk assessment. In detail,dibenzopyrenes have a high impact on toxicity predominantly in pyrogenicmaterials (21 % to 84 %; mean: 59 %) whereas 7H-benzo[c]fluorenedominates toxicity of petrogenic materials (up to 80 %; mean: 26 %).However, in the studied mixed environmental samples the toxic impact ofboth groups together is as high as about 80 %. Many non-EPA PAH are notconsidered in risk assessment and amongst them there are some very toxicones. This needs to be carefully evaluated in future studies.