In this work, we report measured electrochemical half-wave reduction potentials of 3-nitrofluoranthene (3-NF), 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), 6-nitrochrysene (6-NC) and 9-nitroanthracene (9-NA): = -0.51V; -0.61V; -0.64V; and -0.84V respectively. The cyclic voltammetry experiments with the nitro-PAH were carried out in anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), containing 0.1 mol L-1 tetraethylammonium perchlorate (TEAP) using a three-compartment cell fitted with Pt working and auxiliary electrodes, and a Ag/AgI reference electrode (a silver wire in 0.1 mol L-1 DMF/TEAP containing 0.05 mol L-1 tetrabutylammonium iodide). These potentials can be ordered from the less to the more negative value, which corresponds to the same order by which the direct-acting mutagenicity decreases (3-NF >> 1-NP > 6-NC >> 9-NA). Thus, 3-NF, which shows the less negative first half-wave potential value is the more active mutagenic amongst the nitro-PAH studied. In this way, these properties may be used as an indicative of the health risks, asociated to nitro-PAH exposure, and thus being of great importance in toxicological studies.
nitro-PAH; voltammetric peak potentials; mutagenic activity
