Toxicological Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Quinones Contaminated in Diesel Exhaust Particles

• Main Authors: Yoshito Kumagai, Keiko Taguchi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asian Association for Atmospheric Environment 2007-12-01
• Series: Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• Subjects: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; quinone; oxidative stress; vascular dysfunction; diesel exhaust particle
• Online Access: http://asianjae.org/_common/do.php?a=full&b=11&bidx=1593&aidx=20036

Accumulated epidemiological and animal studies have suggested that prolonged exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and pulmonary dysfunction. While diesel exhaust particles (DEP) contain large variety of compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a dominant component contaminated in DEP. This article reviews effects of two PAH quinones, 9,10-phenanthraquinone (9,10-PQ) and 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ), on vascular and respiratory systems.