The sensitivity of young animals to benzo[a]pyrene-induced genotoxic stress RIVM report 340701002/2013 M. Luijten et al. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment P.O. Box 1 | 3720 BA Bilthoven www.rivm.com The sensitivity of young animals to benzo[a]pyrene-induced genotoxic stress RIVM Report 340701002/2013 RIVM Report 340701002 Colophon © RIVM 2013 Parts of this publication may be reproduced, provided acknowledgement is given to the 'National Institute for Public Health and the Environment', along with the title and year of publication. Mirjam Luijten Lya G. Hernández Edwin P. Zwart Peter M. Bos Harry van Steeg Jan van Benthem Contact: Mirjam Luijten Center for Health Protection
[email protected] This investigation has been performed by order and for the account of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, within the framework of project V/340701 'CMRI-stoffen in het jonge kind'. RIVM Report 340701002 Abstract Young animals are more sensitive than adult animals to benzo[a]pyrene-induced genotoxic stress Experimental animals are more sensitive at a young age to the adverse effects induced upon benzo[a]pyrene exposure compared to adult animals. In research performed at the RIVM, higher amounts of DNA damage were observed when benzo[a]pyrene was given to experimental animals at a young age. Usually, potential adverse human health effects of environmental chemicals are evaluated in toxicity studies using adult laboratory animals. Children and adults, however, may differ in sensitivity to these adverse effects. Benzo[a]pyrene is commonly found in grilled and broiled foods, tobacco smoke and automobile exhaust fumes.