Lung tumours in rats and mice after inhalation of PAH-rich emissions.

Rats and mice were exposed to a PAH-rich emission to test the carcinogenic activity. The BaP content of the exposure atmosphere was only 2-3 times higher than the concentration of about 30 micrograms/m3 measured in older coke plants. Although only half of the rats exposed to the exhaust have been investigated histologically up to now, the lung cancer incidence already amounts to 11%, no lung tumours were found in the control animals. Also the mice exposed to the exhaust with and without additional treatment with BaP, DBahA or urethane to induce a "base tumour rate" in the lung, showed a clear exhaust exposure-related carcinogenic effect. The lung tumour multiplicity as well as the incidence was significantly higher. The epidemiological findings of an increased lung cancer risk in coke oven workers can now be supported by the results of this animal inhalation study.