Physiological significance of benzo(alpha)pyrene adsorbed to carbon blacks: elution studies, AHH determinations.

Desorption of benzo(alpha)pyrene from commercial carbon blacks by tissue fluids in vitro is compared to arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase induction in mice at three levels of carbon black exposure. Less than 0.005% of the adsorbed benzo(alpha)pyrene content determined by soxhlet extraction in toluene is eluted by human plasma, swine serum, swine lung homogenate and swine lung washings. Statistically significant differences in elution efficiency are observed by the various tissue fluids and carbon blacks. There is no detectable increase in AHH level in mouse lung or liver tissues even at the highest carbon black exposure and consumption rate of 1g/g bdywt/year.