Comparative carcinogenic potencies of 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole, dibenz[a,j]acridine and benzo[a]pyrene in mouse skin

The relative carcinogenic potencies of three combustion products of fossil fuels, 7H-dibenzoc,g]carbazole (7H-DBc,g]C), dibenza,j]acridine (DBa,j]A) and benzoa] pyrene (Ba]P) were compared using complete carcinogenicity C3H mouse skin bioassays. Both 7H-DBc,g]C and Ba]P produced tumors in 48 of 50 mice with latency periods of 36.6 and 32.4 weeks, respectively. DBa,j]A produced tumors in 25 of 50 mice with a latency period of 80 weeks. 7H-DBc,g]C was found to be as potent a carcinogen as Ba]P when applied to mouse skin. These results have important implications in the determination of relative carcinogenic potencies of complex mixtures.