Phototoxic effects of fluoranthene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, on bacterial species

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Abstract
Fluoranthene, a non‐carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, inactivatesEscherichia colicells in the presence of near‐ultraviolet light (NUV; 300–400 nm).E colicells carrying defects in theuvrA6orkatFgenes are sensitized to inactivation by the simultaneous treatment with fluoranthene and NUV, suggesting that DNA is a target and that hydrogen peroxide is generated.Haemophilus influenzaetransforming DNA can be inactivated by the simultaneous treatment with fluoranthene and NUV confirming DNA as a target. Using the photooxidation of imidazole and histidine as probes, fluoranthene was found to generate singlet oxygen in organic and aqueous media. In water, it participated in electron transfer reactions, reducing nitro blue tetrazolium as well as ferricytochrome C. This reduction took place both in the presence of air, where superoxide anion was formed, and under argon. Simultaneous treatment with fluoranthene and NUV was incapable of inducing histidine‐independent mutations. Simultaneous treatment with fluoranthene and NUV was incapable of inducing theuvrAgene product as evidenced by the absence of the induction of beta‐galactosidase in anE colioperon fusion strain [uvrA215::Mud(Ap,lac)].