Urinary and faecal excretion of chrysene and chrysene metabolites by rats after oral, intraperitoneal, intratracheal or intrapulmonary application.

The urinary and faecal excretion of chrysene and its phenolic metabolites after oral, intraperitoneal, intratracheal, and intrapulmonary administration to rats have been studied by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The metabolite profile was found to depend on the mode of excretion and on the route of administration. In all cases the oxidation of chrysene in the 1,2- or 3,4-position predominates, whereas oxidation in the 5,6-position (K-region) seems be a minor pathway.