Urinary and faecal excretion of metabolites after various modes of administration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to rats

Summarizing the data it may be concluded that high percentages (with up to 70 %) of the PAH material administered can be found in the excretion pruducts in case of oral and intratracheal administration. Significantly lower rates, however, were found after intraperitoneal application. Extreme low excretion rates were found following intrapulmonary administration since resorption from the beeswax/tricaprilin pellet is retarded. The better soluble phenanthrene is an exception since only 10-25 % overall recoveries were found, possibly due to the formation of other water soluble metabolites which escaped the analysis. The main excretion route of the PAH studies and their metabolites is feacal excretion