Detection of carcinogenic amino-alpha-carbolines and amino-gamma-carbolines in diesel-exhaust particles

Diesel-exhaust particles are known to contain mutagenic and carcinogenic chemicals. The aim of this study was to determine whether carcinogenic amino-alpha-carbolines and amino-gamma-carbolines are present in diesel-exhaust particles. These carcinogens which were originally isolated from pyrolysates of proteins and amino acids have been detected in diesel-exhaust particles obtained from two test vehicles as well as in standard materials of automobile-exhaust particles obtained from National Institute for Environmental studies. The levels of these carcinogens were far less than those of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzoa]pyrene. However, the presence of these amino-alpha-carbolines and amino-gamma-carbolines in diesel-exhaust particles suggests that these compounds are environmental pollutants and also that diesel-exhaust is one of the sources of these carcinogens in the outdoor environment.