International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations

For definition of Groups, see Preamble Evaluation.

VOL.: 46 (1989) (p. 303)

CAS No.: 581-89-5
Chem. Abstr. Name: Naphthalene, 2-nitro-

5.1 Exposure data

2-Nitronaphthalene has been detected in particulate emissions from diesel engines. It has also been found at low concentrations in ambient air.

5.2 Experimental data

2-Nitronaphthalene was tested for carcinogenicity by prolonged oral administration in one monkey, producing papillomas in the urinary bladder. Implantation of cholesterol pellets containing 2-nitronaphthalene into the bladder of mice did not increase the incidence of urinary bladder tumours.

5.3 Human data

No data were available to the Working Group.

5.4 Other relevant data

N-Hydroxy-2-naphthylamine (which has been shown to induce tumours in experimental animals) and 2-naphthylamine (which is causally associated with cancer in humans) have been detected as metabolites of 2-nitronaphthalene in the urine of rats.

2-Nitronaphthalene induced morphological transformation in cultures animal cells but did not induce DNA damage in cultured rodent hepatocytes. It induced DNA damage and mutation in bacteria and recombination in yeast.

5.5 Evaluation

There is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity in experimental animals of 2-nitronaphthalene.

No data were available from studies in humans on the carcinogenicity of 2-nitro-naphthalene.

Overall evaluation

2-Nitronaphthalene is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3).

For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.

Last updated 01/21/98

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       Toxicological Abbreviations