Comparison of the kinetics of various biomarkers of benzo[a]pyrene exposure following different routes of entry in rats

Abstract

The effect of route of exposure on the kinetics of key biomarkers of exposure to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a known human carcinogen, was studied. Rats were exposed to an intravenous, intratracheal, oral and cutaneous dose of 40 µmol kg(-1) BaP. BaP and several metabolites were measured in blood, urine and feces collected at frequent intervals over 72 h post-treatment, using high-performance liquid chromatography/fluorescence. Only BaP and 3-hydroxyBaP (3-OHBaP) were detectable in blood at all time points. There were route-to-route differences in the excreted amounts (% dose) of metabolites but the observed time courses of the excretion rate were quite similar. In urine, total amounts of BaP metabolites excreted over the 0-72 h period followed the order: trans-4,5-dihydrodiolBaP (4,5-diolBaP) ≥ 3-OHBaP > 7-OHBaP ≥ 7,8-diolBaP after intravenous injection and intratracheal instillation; 3-OHBaP ≈ 7-OHBaP ≥ 4,5-diolBaP > 7,8-diolBaP after cutaneous application; 3-OHBaP ≥ 4,5-diolBaP ≈ 7-OHBaP > 7,8-diolBaP following oral administration. In feces, total amounts of BaP metabolites recovered were: 7-OHBaP ≈ 3-OHBaP > 4,5-diolBaP > 7,8-diolBaP > BaP-7,8,9,10-tetrol following all administration routes. For all exposure routes, excretion of 4,5- and 7,8-diolBaP was almost complete over the 0-24 h period in contrast with that of 3- and 7-OHBaP. This study confirms the interest of measuring multiple metabolites due to route-to-route differences in the relative excretion of the different biomarkers and in the time courses of diolBaPs versus OHBaPs. Concentration ratios of the different metabolites may help indicate time and main route of exposure.

Keywords: Benzo[a]pyrene; biomarkers; route of exposure; toxicokinetics.