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CAS 189-55-9

Dibenzo[a,i]Pyrene

Dibenzo[a,i]pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) made when fuels, wood, or food burn. It’s found in smoke and soot; PAHs can damage DNA and raise cancer risk [1][2].

Where It Comes From

Vehicle/diesel exhaust, wood/coal stoves, wildfires, industrial burning, tobacco smoke, charred/smoked foods, coal tar/creosote/asphalt [1][3].

How You Are Exposed

Breathing polluted air or secondhand smoke; eating grilled/smoked foods; skin contact with soot, creosote, or contaminated soil/dust [1][3].

Why It Matters

IARC: possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B); PAHs show genotoxic, lung and immune effects in studies [2][1]. EPA assesses PAH mixtures using benzo[a]pyrene equivalents [4].

Who Is at Risk

People near heavy traffic or burning; workers with coal tar, asphalt, coke ovens, or aluminum production; smokers; infants, children, and pregnant people [1][5].

How to Lower Your Exposure

Avoid smoke; vent and maintain stoves/heaters; don’t burn trash; limit heavily charred/smoked foods; wash hands, reduce dust; use PPE and controls at work [1][3][5].

References

  1. [1]ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). 2020.
  2. [2]IARC. Some Non-heterocyclic PAHs and Related Exposures. IARC Monographs, Vol. 92, 2010.
  3. [3]EPA. Learn about Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). epa.gov.
  4. [4]EPA. Relative Potency Factor (RPF) Approach for PAH Mixtures. EPA/635/R-10/001F, 2010.
  5. [5]ATSDR. ToxFAQs: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). 2023.

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