Chemicals and Drugs

Benzo(a)pyrene

A potent mutagen and carcinogen. It is a public health concern because of its possible effects on industrial workers, as an environmental pollutant, an as a component of tobacco smoke.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A potent mutagen and carcinogen. It is a public health concern because of its possible effects on industrial workers, as an environmental pollutant, an as a component of tobacco smoke.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C20H12
Molecular Weight
252.3 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
50-32-8
IUPAC Name
benzo[a]pyrene
InChIKey
FMMWHPNWAFZXNH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
C1=CC=C2C3=C4C(=CC2=C1)C=CC5=C4C(=CC=C5)C=C3
MeSH Unique ID
D001564
Source
PubChem CID 2336

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

4 entry terms
  • 3,4-Benzopyrene
  • 3,4-Benzpyrene
  • 3,4 Benzopyrene
  • 3,4 Benzpyrene

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

20 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity.

MeSH Record

History Note

85

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Benzopyrenes (1966-1984)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D02w.455w.426w.559w.847w.799.306.300w
  2. D04w.615w.799.306.300w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QV 633

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Benzo(a)pyrene. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D001564. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D001564
  2. Benzo(a)pyrene. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzo(a)pyrene
  3. Benzo(a)pyrene. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q306051
  4. Benzo(a)pyrene. In: PubChem Compound. CID 2336. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/2336