International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations
DIBENZ[a,c]ANTHRACENE
VOL.: 32 (1983) (p. 289)
CAS No.: 215-58-7
Chem. Abstr. Name: Benzo(b)triphenylene
5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation
5.1 Experimental data
Dibenz[a,c]anthracene was tested for carcinogenicity in one
experiment by skin application to female mice and produced skin
tumours. It was also tested in three experiments using the mouse-skin
intiation-promotion assay and showed initiating activity.
No data on the teratogenicity of this chemical were available.
In the presence of an exogenous metabolic system,
dibenz[a,c]anthracene was mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium and
mammalian cells in culture. It was positive in an assay for
differential survival, using DNA repair-proficient/-deficient strains
of Bacillus subtilis, and induced unscheduled DNA repair synthesis in
cultured mammalian cells. In two of three studies it induced
morphological transformation in mammalian cells.
There is sufficient evidence that dibenz[a,c]anthracene is active
in short-term tests.
5.2 Human data
Dibenz[a,c]anthracene is present as a minor component of the
total content of polynuclear aromatic compounds in the environment.
Human exposure to dibenz[a,c]anthracene occurs primarily through the
smoking of tobacco, inhalation of polluted air and by ingestion of
food and water contaminated by combustion effluents.
5.3 Evaluation
There is limited evidence that dibenz[a,c]anthracene is
carcinogenic to experimental animals.
For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.
Subsequent evaluation: Suppl. 7 (1987) (p. 61: Group 3)
Synonyms
- Dibenzo[a,c]anthracene
- 1,2:3,4-Dibenzanthracene
- 1,2:3,4-Dibenzoanthracene
Last updated: 17 April 1998