Toxicity Profiles
Toxicity Summary for DIBENZ[A,H]ANTHRACENE
NOTE:
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- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 2. METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION
- 2.1 ABSORPTION
2.2 DISTRIBUTION
2.3 METABOLISM
2.4 EXCRETION
- 3. NONCARCINOGENIC HEALTH EFFECTS
- 3.1 ORAL EXPOSURES
3.2 INHALATION EXPOSURES
3.3 OTHER ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
3.4 TARGET ORGANS/CRITICAL EFFECTS
- 4. CARCINOGENICITY
- 4.1 ORAL EXPOSURES
4.2 INHALATION EXPOSURES
4.3 OTHER ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
4.4 EPA WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE
4.5 CARCINOGENICITY SLOPE FACTORS
- 5. REFERENCES
May 1995
Prepared by Rosmarie A. Faust, Ph.D., Chemical Hazard Evaluation Group, Biomedical and Environmental Information Analysis Section, Health Sciences Research Division, *, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Prepared for OAK RIDGE RESERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROGRAM
*Managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC05-84OR21400
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) with five aromatic rings.
No commercial production or use of dibenz[a,h]anthracene is known. It occurs as a component of
coal tars, shale oils, and soots (IARC, 1985) and has been detected in gasoline engine exhaust, coke
oven emissions, cigarette smoke, charcoal broiled meats, vegetation near heavily traveled roads, and
surface water and soils near hazardous waste sites (ATSDR, 1993; IARC, 1983).
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is primarily
excreted via feces (Chang, 1943). Following absorption, dibenz[a,h]anthracene is distributed to
various tissues, with highest accumulation in the liver and kidneys (Daniel et al., 1967).
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene is metabolized by mixed function oxidases to dihydrodiols. Epoxidation of
the 3,4-dihydrodiol may lead to the formation of a diol-epoxide, the putative ultimate carcinogenic
metabolite of dibenz[a,h]anthracene (Buening et al., 1979).
No human studies were available to evaluate the toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene. In animals,
depressed immune responses were observed in mice following single or multiple subcutaneous
injections of dibenz[a,h]anthracene (White et al., 1985). Weekly subcutaneous. injections of 0.05%
dibenz[a,h]anthracene for 40 weeks produced lymphoid tissue changes, decreased spleen weights,
and liver and kidney lesions in mice (Hoch-Ligeti, 1941). Weekly intramuscular injections of
20 mg/kg promoted the development of arteriosclerotic plaques in chickens (Penn and Snyder, 1988).
The EPA has not derived an oral reference dose (RfD) or inhalation reference concentration
(RfC) for dibenz[a,h]anthracene (EPA, 1995).
No epidemiologic studies or case reports addressing the carcinogenicity of
dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans were available. In animals, dibenz[a,h]anthracene has produced
tumors by different routes of administration, having both local and systemic carcinogenic effects.
After oral administration, dibenz[a,h]anthracene produced tumors at several sites. Male and
female mice fed dibenz[a,h]anthracene (0.85 mg/day for males, 0.76 mg/day for females) in an
aqueous olive oil emulsion developed pulmonary adenomatosis, alveologenic carcinomas of the lung,
hemangio-endotheliomas of the pancreas and mesentery/abdominal lymph nodes, and mammary
carcinomas (females) after 200 days (Snell and Stewart, 1962). A single oral dose of 1.5 mg
dibenz[a,h]anthracene in polyethylene glycol produced a low incidence of forestomach papillomas
in mice (Berenblum and Haran, 1955). Mammary carcinomas developed in mice treated by gavage
with a total dose of 15 mg over a 15-week period (Biancifiori and Caschera, 1962).
Carcinogenic as well as tumor-initiating activity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene has been demonstrated
in topical application studies with mice. Repeated dermal application of 0.001 to 0.01% solutions
produced a high incidence of skin papillomas and carcinomas in mice (Wynder and Hoffmann, 1959;
Van Duuren et al., 1967). In initiation-promotion assays, the compound was active as an initiator of
skin carcinogenesis in mice (Buening et al., 1979; Platt et al., 1990). However, no skin tumors were
observed in Syrian golden hamsters that received topical dibenz[a,h]anthracene applications over
a 10-week period (Shubik et al., 1960).
Injection site sarcomas developed in mice injected subcutaneously with dibenz[a,h]anthracene
(Pfeiffer, 1977). In newborn mice, a single subcutaneous injection of dibenz[a,h]anthracene induced
local sarcomas and lung adenomas (Platt et al., 1990) and three intraperitoneal injections induced
a high incidence of pulmonary tumors (Buening et al., 1979). A number of earlier studies have also
demonstrated the carcinogenicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene when administered by various parenteral
routes in several animal species (IARC, 1973).
Based on no human data and sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity in animals, EPA has
assigned dibenz[a,h]anthracene a weight-of-evidence classification of B2, probable human
carcinogen (EPA, 1995).
1. INTRODUCTION
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene (CAS No. 53-70-3), also referred to as 1,2,5,6-dibenz(a,h)anthracene,
1,2:4,6-dibenz(a,h)anthracene, 1,2:5,6-dibenz(a,h)anthracene, DB(a,h)A, or DBA, is a polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) with five aromatic rings (ATSDR, 1993; Budavari et al., 1989). It has
a molecular formula of C22H14, a molecular weight of 278.33, and a melting point of 266C.
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene exists as crystalline plates or leaflets and is insoluble in water, slightly
soluble in alcohol and ether, and soluble in petroleum ether, benzene, toluene, xylene, oils, and other
organic solvents (Budavari et al., 1989). It has a vapor pressure of 1 10-10 mm Hg at 20C and an
estimated log octanol/water partition coefficient of 6.84 (Mabey et al., 1982).
No commercial production or use of dibenz[a,h]anthracene is known. It occurs as a component
of coal tars, shale oils, and soots (IARC, 1985) and has been detected in gasoline engine exhaust,
coke oven emissions, cigarette smoke, charcoal broiled meats, vegetation near heavily traveled roads,
and surface water and soils near hazardous waste sites (ATSDR, 1993; IARC, 1983).
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene is one of a number of PAHs on EPA's priority pollutant list (EPA, 1991).
2. METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION
2.1 ABSORPTION
No human data and very limited animal data are available concerning the absorption of
dibenz[a,h]anthracene. One animal study by Chang (1943) indicates that dibenz[a,h]anthracene is
poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Rats given dibenz[a,h]anthracene in starch solution
by gavage (200 mg) or in the diet (250 mg) absorbed less than 10% of the administered dose.
2.2 DISTRIBUTION
Following gavage administration of radiolabeled dibenz[a,h]anthracene to rats, radioactivity was
distributed to several tissues (Daniel et al., 1967). About 5% of the radiolabel entered the thoracic
lymph duct within 24 hours with peak levels occurring at 3-4 hours. In blood plasma, peak levels
were seen approximately 7 hours after dibenz[a,h]anthracene administration, suggesting metabolite
reabsorption. The highest concentrations of radiolabel were found in the liver and kidneys, followed
by adrenal glands, ovaries and blood. Maximum concentrations in these organs were not reached
until 10 hours after dosing. Three to four days after dosing, radiolabel was found only in the adrenal
glands, ovaries, and fat. Heidelberger and Weiss (1951) reported that 90 minutes after an intravenous
injection of radiolabeled dibenz[a,h]anthracene, 89% of the radioactivity was found in the liver
of mice.
2.3 METABOLISM
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene is metabolized by mixed function oxidases to dihydrodiols
(Nordqvist et al., 1979; Slaga et al., 1980; Wood et al., 1978). The 3,4-dihydrodiol is the major
metabolite formed from dibenz[a,h]anthracene by rat liver microsomes, representing 24% to 28%
of the total metabolites (Buening et al., 1979). Other metabolites are the 1,2- and 5,6-dihydrodiols,
representing 10% to 15% of total metabolites. The 3,4-dihydrodiol is thought to be the immediate
metabolic precursor of the diol-epoxide of dibenz[a,h]anthracene, a compound designated as the
ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of dibenz[a,h]anthracene. Platt et al. (1983) identified the 3,4-, 5,6-,
and 1,2-diols, as well as the 5-phenol and 5,4-oxide, as potential metabolites of
dibenz[a,h]anthracene.
2.4 EXCRETION
Following gavage (200 mg) or dietary (250 mg) administration of dibenz[a,h]anthracene, rats
excreted >90% of the dose in the feces (Chang, 1943).
3. NONCARCINOGENIC HEALTH EFFECTS
3.1 ORAL EXPOSURES
3.1.1 Acute Toxicity
Information on the acute oral toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans or animals was not
available.
3.1.2 Subchronic Toxicity
Information on the subchronic oral toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans or animals was
not available.
3.1.3 Chronic Toxicity
3.1.3.1 Human
Information on the chronic oral toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans was not available.
3.1.3.2 Animal
In a study designed to evaluate the occurrence of pulmonary adenomatosis in DBA/2 mice
treated with dibenz[a,h]anthracene, Snell and Stewart (1962) observed that ad libitum ingestion of
a water/olive oil emulsion containing 0.2 mg/mL dibenz[a,h]anthracene for 279 days (males) or
237 days (females) may have accelerated the development of calcareous pericarditis (see also
Sect. 4.1.2.). This lesion is known to occur spontaneously in DBA/2 mice and to increase with age.
3.1.4 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
Information on the developmental and reproductive toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans
or animals following oral exposure was not available.
3.1.5 Reference Dose
An oral reference dose (RfD) for dibenz[a,h]anthracene has not been derived.
3.2 INHALATION EXPOSURES
3.2.1 Acute Toxicity
Information on the acute toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans or animals following
inhalation exposure was not available.
3.2.2 Subchronic Toxicity
Information on the subchronic toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans or animals following
inhalation exposure was not available.
3.2.3 Chronic Toxicity
Information on the chronic toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans or animals following
inhalation exposure was not available.
3.2.4 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
Information on the developmental and reproductive toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans
or animals following inhalation exposure was not available.
3.2.5 Reference Concentration
An inhalation reference concentration (RfC) for dibenz[a,h]anthracene has not been derived.
3.3 OTHER ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
3.3.1 Acute Toxicity
3.3.1.1 Humans
Information on the acute toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans by other routes of
exposure was not available.
3.3.1.2 Animal
White et al. (1985) evaluated the immune response in mice following single or multiple
subcutaneous injections of dibenz[a,h]anthracene using the antibody-forming cell response to sheep
erythrocytes. A single injection of 1 mmol dibenz[a,h]anthracene resulted in a 71% depression of
immune response. Fourteen daily injections of 160 mol reduced the immune response by 91% and
produced a 44% reduction in absolute thymus weight.
Mice receiving three subcutaneous injections of either 50, 100, or 400 mg/kg of
dibenz[a,h]anthracene over a 12-day period had reduced serum antibody levels
(Malmgren et al., 1952). Depressed growth, persisting for at least 15 weeks, was reported in young
rats that received one or two intraperitoneal injections of dibenz[a,h]anthracene at doses ranging
from 3 to 90 mg/kg (Haddow et al., 1937).
As an indicator of potential carcinogenic activity, Bock and Mund (1958) measured the potency
of a number of chemicals in suppressing sebaceous gland activity in mice. High levels of sebaceous
gland suppression were seen when dibenz[a,h]anthracene was applied twice daily on three
consecutive days to the skin of mice.
3.3.2 Subchronic Toxicity
3.3.2.1 Human
Information on the subchronic toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans by other routes of
exposure was not available.
3.3.2.2 Animal
Hoch-Ligeti (1941) administered dibenz[a,h]anthracene to mice by weekly subcutaneous
injections (0.05 mL of a 0.05% solution in gelatin) for 40 weeks. Treatment with
dibenz[a,h]anthracene caused an increase in the number of lymph gland stem cells, an overall
decrease in lymphoid cells, dilation of lymphoid sinuses, and significantly decreased spleen weights.
Additional effects included signs of fatty degeneration of the liver and deposition of iron in Kupffer
cells, iron deposition in adrenal cortex,; and signs of degeneration in kidney tubules
and Malpighian bodies.
Rats given subcutaneous injections of 0.278 mg dibenz[a,h]anthracene 5 times weekly for
several weeks exhibited pathological changes in the lymphoid tissues, characterized by extravascular
red blood cells in the lymph spaces and by the presence of abnormally large pigmented cells
(Lasnitzki and Woodhouse, 1944).
Weekly intramuscular injections of 20 mg/kg of dibenz[a,h]anthracene administered to male
White Leghorn chickens for 16 weeks promoted the development of pre-existing arteriosclerotic
plaques but did not initiate the development of new plaques (Penn and Snyder, 1988).
3.3.3 Chronic Toxicity
Information on the chronic toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene by other routes of exposure in
humans or animals was not available.
3.3.4 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
3.3.4.1 Human
Information on the developmental or reproductive toxicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene by other
routes of exposure in humans was not available.
3.3.4.2 Animal
Some degeneration of spermatogenic cells and the presence of "large" corpora lutea in the
ovaries were observed in mice administered weekly subcutaneous injections of
dibenz[a,h]anthracene (0.05 mL of a 0.05% solution in gelatin) for 40 weeks (Hoch-Ligeti, 1941).
3.4 TARGET ORGANS/CRITICAL EFFECTS
3.4.1 Oral Exposures
No data were available to identify target organs or critical effects following oral exposure to
dibenz[a,h]anthracene.
3.4.2 Inhalation Exposures
No data were available to identify target organs or critical effects following inhalation exposure
to dibenz[a,h]anthracene.
3.4.3 Other Routes of Exposure
3.4.3.1 Primary target organs
Lymphatic system: Subchronic exposure by subcutaneous injection produced lymphoid tissues
changes in mice and rats.
3.4.3.2 Other target organs
1. Liver: Subchronic exposure by subcutaneous injection produced fatty liver changes in
mice.
2. Kidneys: Subchronic exposures by subcutaneous injection produced degenerative kidney
tubule changes in mice.
3. Cardiovascular system: Subchronic exposure by intramuscular injection promoted the
development of pre-existing arteriosclerotic plaques in chickens.
4. CARCINOGENICITY
4.1 ORAL EXPOSURES
4.1.1 Human
Information on the carcinogenicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans following oral exposure
was not available.
4.1.2 Animal
Male and female DBA/2 mice (21/sex) were given 0.2 mg/mL dibenz[a,h]anthracene in an
aqueous olive oil emulsion ad libitum in place of drinking water (Snell and Stewart, 1962). Males
were estimated to have received a daily dose of 0.85 mg/day while females received 0.76 mg/day.
The duration of the experiment was 279 or 237 days for males and females, respectively. The
animals did not tolerate the olive-oil vehicle well and lost weight after a few weeks of exposure,
becoming emaciated and dehydrated. At 200 days, all of the 27 survivors developed pulmonary
adenomatosis, 24 had alveologenic carcinoma of the lung, 16 had hemangio-endotheliomas of the
pancreas and mesentery/abdominal lymph nodes, and 12/13 females had mammary carcinomas;
precancerous growths of the small intestines were also observed. No mammary tumors, but two
pulmonary adenomatoses, were seen in 35 controls.
Twice weekly gavage administration of 0.5% dibenz[a,h]anthracene in olive oil (total dose,
15 mg) for 15 weeks produced mammary carcinomas in 1/20 female BALB/c mice and in
13/24 pseudo-pregnant females (obtained by mating virgin females with vasectomized males)
(Biancifiori and Caschera, 1962). A single dose of 1.5 mg dibenz[a,h]anthracene in polyethylene
glycol produced forestomach tumors in 2/42 male Swiss mice after 30 weeks. No tumors were seen
in mice treated with polyethylene glycol alone (Berenblum and Haran, 1955).
4.2 INHALATION EXPOSURES
4.2.1 Human
Although there are no human data that specifically link exposure to dibenz[a,h]anthracene to
human cancers, dibenz[a,h]anthracene is a component of mixtures that has been associated with
human cancer. These include coal tar, soots, coke oven emissions, and cigarette smoke (EPA, 1995).
4.2.2 Animal
Information on the carcinogenicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in animals following inhalation
exposure was not available.
4.3 OTHER ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
4.3.1 Human
Information on the carcinogenicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in humans by other routes of
exposure was not available.
4.3.2 Animal
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene was the first pure chemical compound shown to be carcinogenic in
animals (IARC, 1973). Carcinogenic activity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene has been demonstrated in
numerous skin application and parenteral administration studies.
Application of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in acetone to the skin of NMRI mice (three times weekly
at total doses of 136, 448, or 1358 nmol) for 112 weeks produced papillomas in 6%, 8%, or 32% of
treated animals, respectively (Platt et al., 1990). Tumor-initiating activity was demonstrated when
female NMRI mice received topical applications of dibenz[a,h]anthracene (300 or 600 nmol)
followed by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) for 24 weeks. The effect
was dose-dependent, where doubling the dose resulted in a considerable increase of skin tumors as
well as tumor yield and a decrease in latency period of the first tumor. Tumor-initiating activity was
also observed when Sencar mice were treated with concentrations as low as 10 nmol followed by
TPA applications (Buening et al., 1979). Lijinsky et al. (1965) reported that biweekly topical
applications of a 0.2% solution of dibenz[a,h]anthracene (38 g/dose) in acetone-benzene for
44 weeks induced skin papillomas and carcinomas in 16/20 female Swiss mice.
Van Duuren et al. (1967) reported that topical applications of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in acetone
(0.001%, 0.01%, or 0.1%, administered 3 times weekly for an unspecified period) produced skin
tumors in 1/30 (1 carcinoma), 43/50 (39 carcinomas), or 39/40 (32 carcinomas), respectively. A
dose-related decrease in survival time and tumor latency period was also observed. Repeated skin
applications of a 0.001% solution of dibenz[a,h]anthracene in acetone (duration of treatment not
given) produced skin papillomas and carcinomas in 30% of mice, while a 0.01% solution produced
both papillomas and carcinomas in over 90% of mice, with similar latency periods (Wynder
and Hoffmann, 1959).
Hamsters appear to be more resistant to the tumorigenic properties of dibenz[a,h]anthracene than
mice. Shubik et al. (1960) observed no skin tumors in Syrian golden hamsters receiving 20 topical
applications of a 0.2% solution of dibenz[a,h]anthracene over a period of 10 weeks. Multiple
intratracheal instillations of 0.05 or 0.25 mg dibenz[a,h]anthracene administered as 24 or 30 weekly
doses, respectively, did not induce respiratory tract tumors in Syrian golden hamsters given the lower
dose (Sellakumar and Shubik, 1974). Hamsters given the higher dose developed two
adenocarcinomas (one each at week 45 and 108). The development of squamous cell carcinomas was
reported in mice treated with dibenz[a,h]anthracene by intratracheal instillation (details not
provided) (Yanisheva and Balenko, 1966).
A single subcutaneous injection of dibenz[a,h]anthracene (308 nmol/animal) led to the formation
of fibrosarcomas at the injection site in 63% of treated adult NMRI mice (Platt et al., 1990). When
newborn NMRI mice were given a single subcutaneous injection (400 nmol/animal) on day 2 of their
life, 92% of treated animals developed lung adenomas after 40 weeks. Injection site sarcomas were
reported in female NMRI mice following a single subcutaneous injection of as little as 2.35 g
dibenz[a,h]anthracene (Pfeiffer, 1977). In another subcutaneous injection study, Lubet et al. (1983)
found that treatment with 150 g dibenz[a,h]anthracene was associated with the development of
fibrosarcomas but only in some strains. Following a 9-month observation period, fibrosarcomas were
observed in 80%, 33%, 3%, or 0% of C3H/HeJ, C57B1/6J, DBA/2J, or AKR/J mice, respectively.
Newborn mice injected intraperitoneally on the 1st, 8th, and 15th days of life with
dibenz[a,h]anthracene at total doses of 70 or 420 nmol, 88% and 100%, respectively, developed
pulmonary tumors (Buening et al., 1979). A number of earlier studies summarized by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (1973) have also demonstrated the
carcinogenicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene when administered by various parenteral routes to several
animal species.
Falk et al. (1964) evaluated the potential inhibitory effects of phenanthrene and other PAHs
considered noncarcinogenic on the tumorigenicity of dibenz[a,h]anthracene. Male C57B1 mice
received single subcutaneous injections of various dosages of dibenz[a,h]anthracene alone or in
combination with other PAHs [hydrogenated dibenz(a,h)anthracenes]. Phenanthrene as well as
hydrogenated dibenz(a,h)anthracenes exerted substantial inhibitory effects on the production of
injection site sarcomas induced by dibenz[a,h]anthracene. In contrast, Pfeiffer (1977) found no
inhibitory effects of 10 noncarcinogenic PAHs in NRMI mice given single subcutaneous injections
of dibenz(a,h)anthracene.
4.4 EPA WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE
Classification--B2, probable human carcinogen (EPA, 1995).
Basis--Based on no human data and sufficient data from animal bioassays.
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene produced carcinomas in mice following oral or dermal exposure
and injection site tumors in several species following subcutaneous or intramuscular
administration. Dibenz[a,h]anthracene has induced DNA damage and gene mutations in
bacteria as well as gene mutations and transformation in several types of mammalian cell
cultures.
4.5 CARCINOGENICITY SLOPE FACTORS
No carcinogenicity slope factor currently are available for dibenz[a,h]anthracene.
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