Abstract
3,6-Dinitrobenzo[e]pyrene (3,6-DNBeP) is an extremely strong bacterial mutagen, and was recently identified in highly mutagenic surface soil samples. In a previous study, a sensitive analytical method was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence detection. In this study, we analyzed 3,6-DNBeP in surface soil, airborne particles, diesel particles, and incinerator dusts using this analytical method to reveal the distribution of 3,6-DNBeP in the environment. 3,6-DNBeP was detected in all surface soil samples, and the mutagenic contribution ratio of 3,6-DNBeP to the mutagenicity of the soil extracts toward Salmonella (S.) typhimurium TA98 was 17.3% on average. A positive correlation was observed between the mutagenicity of surface soil and the amount of 3,6-DNBeP (r=0.8653). 3,6-DNBeP was detected in airborne particles in the range of 19-76 fg/m3. The particle-size-distribution ratios of 3,6-DNBeP in <1.1, 1.1-2.0, 2.0-3.3, 3.3-7, and >7 μm of airborne particles were 13.1%, 13.8%, 37.0%, 19.1%, and 17.0%, respectively. 3,6-DNBeP was detected in diesel particles from general automobiles and industrial forklifts, and incinerator dusts. These results suggested that 3,6-DNBeP was a major mutagen in surface soil, and diesel engines and incinerators were possible sources of 3,6-DNBeP distributed in surface soil and air. This is the first report on the detection of 3,6-DNBeP in diesel particles and incinerator dusts.
