Photoelectric properties and detection of the aromatic carcinogens benzo(a)pyrene and dimethylbenzanthracene
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Date
1979-09
Authors
Houle, W. A.
Brown, H. M.
Griffith, O. H.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Abstract
The absolute fhotoelectron quantum yield
spectra for benzo[ a ]pyrene an dimethylbenzanthracene are
present~d in th~ wavelength range 180-230 nm. These polycyclic
aromatic carcmogens have photoelectron quantum yields of
approximately 2 X 10-3 electrons per incident photon at 180 nm.
The quantum yields fall off quickly and monotonically at
wavelengths longer than 210 nm (5.9 eV). Threshold values for
benzo[ a ]pyrene and dimethylbenzanthracene are 5.25 ± 0.06
eV and 5.27 ± 0.04 eV, respectively. The photoelectron quantum
yields of benzo[ a ]pyrene and dimethylbenzanthracene are
several orders of magnitude greater than typical components
of biological membranes (amino acids, phospholipids, and
polysaccharides). Preliminary micrographs of benzo[a]pyrene
and dimethylbenzanthracene sublimed onto poly(L-lysine) and
onto dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine demonstrate the high
contrast of small crystallites of carcinogens against a background
of membrane components. These results and calculations
involving relative contrast factors suggest that the distribution
of these carcinogens in biological membranes can be
determined by using photoelectron microscopy.
Description
8 pages
Keywords
Citation
Houle, W.A., Brown, H. M. & Griffith, O. H. (1979) Photoelectric properties and detection of the aromatic carcinogens benzo(a)pyrene and dimethylbenzanthracene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76, 4180‑4184.