Ability of 16 priority PAHs to be photocytotoxic to a cell line from the rainbow trout gill.

Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were screened for their ability to be photocytotoxic to a cell line from the rainbow trout gill, RTgill-W1. PAHs could be divided into one of three groups: incapable of being photocytotoxic, able to be both photocytotoxic and directly cytotoxic, or capable of being only photocytotoxic. Photocytotoxicity was distinct from direct cytotoxicity in that EC50 values were lower with the neutral red assay immediately after the PAH/UV treatment than with alamar Blue or CFDA-AM, indicating a more specific action on lysosomes. As well, in photocytotoxicity but not in direct cytotoxicity, the three assays showed increased impairment 24 h after treatment. Most PAHs were found to be strictly photocytotoxic; however, only six compounds were photocytotoxic at concentrations theoretically achievable in water. When photocytotoxic PAHs were ranked relative to fluoranthene to establish fluoranthene equivalent factors (FEFs), benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene were found to be most potent. However, when the water solubility of each compound was taken into account in order to calculate the potential environmental photocytotoxic potency (PEPP), fluoranthene and pyrene appeared to have the most potential to impact fish through photocytotoxicity.