POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN BOVINE LENS

A study was performed to detect the presence of polycyclic aromatic hy drocarbons (PAHs) in bovine eyes. Twenty fresh bovine eyes were used t o detect the presence of PAHs in lens, vitreous and aqueous by HPLC an d spectrofluorometer. In lenticular tissue the mean amount of PAHs was 0.0271 mu g/g and the mean level of PAH in each lens was 0.059 mu g. Five types of PAHs (pyrene, fluoranthene, triphenylene, 1.2-benzanthra cene and chrysene) were found in the lenses but none in vitreous and a queous. These data indicate that PAHs are present only in the lens of the bovine eye. The source of these substances in mammalian clear lens is unclear.