Toxicity Profiles
RAGs A Format for Chrysene - CAS Number 218019
Chrysene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Pure chrysene is a colorless crystalline solid that is virtually insoluble in water; only slightly soluble in alcohol, ether, carbon bisulfide or glacial acetic acid; and moderately soluble in benzene. Chrysene is not used or produced commercially; it is used primarily in research applications. Chrysene is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that occurs as a product of the incomplete combustion of organic compounds. Environmental manmade sources of chrysene include gasoline, diesel, and aircraft turbine exhausts; coal combustion and gasification; emissions from coke ovens, wood burning stoves, and waste incineration; and various industrial applications such as iron, aluminum, and steel production. Chrysene is also a constituent of coal, oil, and their distillates, such as coal tar, and creosote. Non-manmade sources of chrysene include forest and grass fires, as well as volcanoes; however, these latter sources do not contribute significantly to the total environmental concentration of chrysene.
Little information on the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of chrysene in humans is available. Animal studies have shown that approximately 75% of the administered chrysene may be absorbed by oral, dermal, or inhalation routes. Humans are exposed to chrysene by oral, inhalation, and dermal routes. Meats, particularly those with high fat contents, contribute significant quantities of chrysene to the diet from cooking the fat. Foods smoked or cooked over open coals contain even greater concentrations. Significant exposure to chrysene also occurs through the inhalation of mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke. Occupational exposure to chrysene occurs during tar production or from coking plants, coal gasification, smoke houses and smoked meat production, road and roof-tarring, incinerators, and aluminum production. Human or animal systemic, developmental, and reproductive health effects following exposure to chrysene were not identified.
Oral and inhalation carcinogenic bioassays were not identified for humans. In mouse skin painting studies, chrysene was an initiator of papillomas and carcinomas. In addition, intraperitoneal injections of chrysene have induced liver adenomas and carcinomas in male CD-1 and BLU/Ha Swiss mice. EPA has classified chrysene in weight-of-evidence Group B2, probable human carcinogen, based on the induction of liver tumors and skin papillomas and carcinomas following treatment and the mutagenicity and chromosomal abnormalities induced in in-vitro tests.
The following is a presentation of the toxicity information associated with Chrysene.
Carcinogenic Health Effects
- The Oral Slope Factor is 7.30E-03 (mg/kg-day)-1.
- The Inhalation Unit Risk is 8.8E-04 (mg/m3)-1.
- The Dermal Slope Factor is 2.35E-02 (mg/kg-day)-1.
- The Dermal Slope Factor is based on a gastrointestinal absorption factor of 0.3100.