BENZO(C)PHENANTHRENE

Chemical properties

Yellow Solid

The Uses of BENZO(C)PHENANTHRENE

A PAH metabolite having a toxic effect on fish bone metabolite. Also, it is used as a marker of the carcinogenic potency of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mixture. A genotoxic agent.

Definition

ChEBI: An ortho-fused polycyclic arene resulting from the symmetrical fusion of the C1-C2 bonds of two naphthalene units.

Safety Profile

Questionable carcinogen withexperimental tumorigenic data. Mutation data reported.When heated to decomposition it emits acrid and irritatingfumes.

Carcinogenicity

Dermal administration (initiation– promotion protocols) to mice showed benzo[c]phenanthrene was a tumor-initiating agent. Repeated dermal administration in mice or subcutaneous injection into mice or rats gave results considered to be inadequate for evaluation (3). Intraperitoneal injection of benzo[c]phenanthrene into infant mice resulted in a substantial induction of lung tumors. Seven suspected activated metabolites were also active, as well as in two-stage mouse carcinogenesis assays.

Purification Methods

Crystallise benzo[c]phenanthrene from EtOH, pet ether, or EtOH/Me2CO. [Beilstein 5 III 2378, 5 IV 2552.]