Dibenzopyrenes are a group of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with the molecular formula C₂₄H₁₄. There are five

isomer In chemistry, isomers are molecules or polyatomic ions with identical molecular formulae – that is, same number of atoms of each element – but distinct arrangements of atoms in space. Isomerism is existence or possibility of isomers. Iso ...

s of dibenzopyrene which differ by the arrangement of aromatic rings: dibenzo 'a'',''e''yrene, dibenzo 'a'',''h''yrene, dibenzo 'a'',''i''yrene, dibenzo 'a'',''l''yrene, and dibenzo 'e'',''l''yrene. Dibenzopyrenes have been recognized for their suspected human carcinogenicity. The most notable dibenzopyrene isomer, dibenzo 'a'',''l''yrene is a constituent of tobacco smoke and is thought to be 30 to 100 times more potent as a carcinogen than benzo 'a''yrene. The four dibenzopyrene isomers; dibenzo 'a'',''e''yrene, dibenzo 'a'',''h''yrene, dibenzo 'a'',''i''yrene, dibenzo 'a'',''l''yrene are included in the list of 16 EU priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons due to their mutagenicity and suspected human carcinogenicity. Primary sources of dibenzopyrenes in the environment are combustion of wood and coal, gasoline and diesel exhaust, and tires.

References

{{Reflist, 2 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons