General Chemical and Experimental Data on Carcinogenesis and Tobacco Smoke

polynuclear Aromatic Bydromrbons As criteria for the presence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in tobacco smoke, the list of J. W. Cook (m) has been widely accepted by tobacco chemists. The Surgeon General’s 1964 Report and Cook’s paper are in agreement with respect to the presence of benzo(a)pyrene (3 : 4benzopyrene) , dibenz (a,h) -anthracene (12 : 5,6-dibenzanthrac) : benzo(c) phenanthrene (3 : 4benzophenanthrene), and dibenzo ( a,i) pyrene (3,4 : 9,10-dibenzopyrene) , all having carcinogenic activity. Cook considers, furthermore, as identified : Benz (a) anthracene (1,2benzanthracene) marginal carcinogenic activity; chrysene, benzo(e) pyrene (1,2benzopyrene), questionable carcinogenic activity ; benzo (g,h,i) perylene (1,12benzoperylene) )2 benzo( b) fluoranthene (3,4benzofluoranthene) carcinogenic (69,106)) and benzo (j) fluoranthene (10,ll~benzofluoranthene) carcinogenic (206). Indeno (l&3-cd) pyrene (2,3-phenylenepyrene) has since been isolated from tobacco smoke (@). This polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon was found to be carcinogenic (44,59). The following carcinogens, or questionable carcinogens, were isolated by Kiryu and Kuratsune (55) in the smoke of cigarettes smoked by human volunteers: benz (a) anthracene, chrysene, benzo (a) pyrene, benzo (e) pyrene, benzo (b) fluoranthene and benzo (k) fluoranthene. The carcinogenic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are regarded as the major initiating carcinogens in tobacco smoke.