benzoapyreen

Note: The term benzoapyreen appears to be a misspelling of benzo[a]pyrene. The standard name for the well-studied compound is benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.

Benzo[a]pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of five fused benzene rings, with the chemical formula C20H12. It is a persistent environmental contaminant produced during incomplete combustion of organic matter and is one of the best characterized PAHs in terms of toxicology and carcinogenicity.

Occurrence and exposure: Benzo[a]pyrene is found in tobacco smoke, grilled or charred foods, coal tar, wood smoke, and vehicle exhaust. Because it is highly lipophilic and sparingly soluble in water, it tends to accumulate in fatty tissues and in environmental matrices such as soil and sediment.

Biological activity: In mammals, benzo[a]pyrene is metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes to reactive diol epoxides, notably benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide, which can form covalent DNA adducts and initiate mutations that may lead to cancer.

Health and regulatory status: The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies benzo[a]pyrene as a Group 1 carcinogen, indicating carcinogenicity to humans. Chronic exposure is associated with increased risk of lung, skin, and other cancers. It is also used as a biomarker of PAH exposure in environmental and occupational health monitoring.

Environmental and safety considerations: Benzo[a]pyrene commonly co-occurs with other PAHs in air and soils. Regulatory agencies set limits for benzo[a]pyrene in air, water, and food in many jurisdictions, and monitoring programs track its concentrations in environmental samples.