Occurrence of carcinogenic amino-alpha-carbolines in some environmental samples.
The carcinogenic amino-alpha-carbolines, 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole and AalphaC, have been measured in airborne particles, rain water, soil and cigarette-smoke-polluted indoor air by high-performance liquid chromatography. These carcinogens were found in all kinds of environmental samples examined, although MeAalphaC was not detected in soil. Considering the present results, together with the previous findings that these carcinogens were present in foodstuffs, cigarette smoke and diesel-exhaust particles, amino-alpha-carbolines are likely to be ubiquitous environmental pollutants. Our data also support the hypothesis that amino-alpha-carbolines are formed through combustion of various materials such as food, grass and petroleum.
Manabe
S
S
Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan.
Wada
O
O
Morita
M
M
Izumikawa
S
S
Asakuno
K
K
Suzuki
H
H