Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and a known carcinogen. Indeno[ 1,2,3-cd]pyrene is listed as a priority pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene has been detected in automobile engine exhaust, charcoal broiled foods, ground water, river sediments as well as cigarette smoke condensate.
A component of polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons, also known as polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, usually bound to small
particulate matter present in urban air, industrial
and natural combustion emissions, and
cigarette smoke.
ChEBI: Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene is a member of pyrenes.
Vigorous reactions, sometimes amounting to explosions, can result from the contact between aromatic hydrocarbons, such as INDENO(1,2,3-C,D)PYRENE, and strong oxidizing agents. They can react exothermically with bases and with diazo compounds. Substitution at the benzene nucleus occurs by halogenation (acid catalyst), nitration, sulfonation, and the Friedel-Crafts reaction.
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene causes lung cancer inanimals. There is sufficient evidence of itscarcinogenic actions in animals. However, thecancer-causing effects of this compound inhumans are un known. There is no report onits toxicity.
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: Toxic.
Some may burn but none ignite readily. Containers may explode when heated. Some may be transported hot.
The IARC has determined that there is
sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity of
IP in animals.4 No human data are available
because exposures typically involve chemical
mixtures containing numerous polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. IP is considered possibly
carcinogenic to humans.
No MCLGs or MCLs have been proposed (U.S. EPA, 2000).
Detected in 8 diesel fuels at concentrations ranging from 0.056 to 0.85 mg/L with a mean
value of 0.143 mg/L (Westerholm and Li, 1994). Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene was also reported in
gasoline (59 μg/L), fresh motor oil (30 μg/L), and used motor oil (34.0 to 83.2 mg/kg) (quoted,
Verschueren, 1983). Also detected in asphalt fumes at an average concentration of 5.92 ng/m3
(Wang et al., 2001).
The concentration of indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene in coal tar and the maximum concentration
reported in groundwater at a mid-Atlantic coal tar site were 1,200 and 0.002 mg/L, respectively
(Mackay and Gschwend, 2001). Based on laboratory analysis of 7 coal tar samples, indeno[1,2,3-
cd]pyrene concentrations ranged from ND to 1,400 ppm (EPRI, 1990). Identified in hightemperature
coal tar pitches used in roofing operations at concentrations ranging from ND to 2,460
mg/kg (Malaiyandi et al., 1982).
Nine commercially available creosote samples contained indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene at
concentrations ranging from 1 to 40 mg/kg (Kohler et al., 2000).
Schauer et al. (2001) measured organic compound emission rates for volatile organic
compounds, gas-phase semi-volatile organic compounds, and particle phase organic compounds
from the residential (fireplace) combustion of pine, oak, and eucalyptus. The particle-phase
emission rates of indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were 0.518 mg/kg of pine burned and 0.168 mg/kg of
eucalyptus burned.
Particle-phase tailpipe emission rates from gasoline-powered automobiles with and without
catalytic converters were 0.436 and 92.0 μg/km, respectively (Schauer et al., 2002).
Chemical/Physical. Indeno[1,2,3-cd] will not hydrolyze (Kollig, 1993).
