Evaluation of PAH: DNA Adduct Formation in Rats Fed Coal Tar-Contaminated Diets

Previous studies have demonstrated that mouse lung is a target organ for the tumorigenic and genotoxic effects of coal tar. The present study evaluated PAH:DNA adduct formation in lung, liver, forestomach, and mammary gland of female CD rats fed various types of coal tar-contaminated diets. Coal tar-contaminated soil, an organic extract of contaminated soil, neat coal tar, and diets containing only B a ]P were evaluated. Ingestion of coal tar diets resulted in detectable levels of DNA adducts in lung and forestomach tissue. These adducts were primarily derived from benzo c ]fluorene and B a ]P. The adduct derived from benzo c ]fluorene was the most predominant. No adducts were detected in liver and mammary gland under the conditions employed in this study. The formation of a benzo c ]fluorene-derived DNA adduct in rat lung following coal tar exposure is consistent with previous studies performed with mice.