Carcinogenicity and polarographic behaviour of dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, 4,11-diazadibenzo[a,h]pyrene and 7,14-diazadibenzo[a,h]pyrene.

In a simultaneous test of carcinogenicity the writers have studied the activities of dibenzo[a,h]pyrene (I), 4,11-diazadibenzo[a,h]pyrene (II) and 7,14-diazadibenzo[a,h]pyrene (III). These compounds were dispersed in paraffin disks and subcutaneously implanted in rats. Each experimental group consisted of 30 animals. The number of sarcomas induced by (I) and (II) was 23 and 16 respectively. The compound (III) has proved wholly inactive. Tumorigenicity of (I) and (II) was found to be proportional to their electron donation and inversely proportional to their electron acceptance in the performed polarographic test. Inactivity of (III) is being discussed from the aspect of molecular geometry.