Instance of the Occurrence of Carcinogenic Substances in Certain Barnacles.

摘要

The chromatographic fractionation of some extracts obtained from a sample of the thatched barnacle (Tetraclita squamosa rubescens) showed on lime and alumina columns the presence of several zones that displayed intense blue fluorescence in ultraviolet light. Some of the fractions were crystallized and gave in hexane solution extinction curves that were typical for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The carbon and hydrogen content of one of these fractions (5 mg from 1 kg barnacles), as well as the observed molecular weight, corresponded to the values calculated for benzpyrenes. Furthermore, a spectroscopic examination, although also indicative of accompanying isomers or close analogs, demonstrated the presence of 3,4-beuzpyrene in the crystalline mixture. Consequently, this particular sample was tested on mice for carcinogenic activity.