The carcinogenicity associated with PAH contamination in the aquatic
environment has been a topic of prime importance since neoplasia was described in fish
living in multi-sources contaminated areas, 50 years ago. Since then, a whole array of
studies were conducted in order to better characterize the fate of PAHs, their
bioavailability for biota and their effects in term of neoplastic lesions. Genotoxicity
assessment is at the heart of the matter, as benzo[a]pyrene, the leader of PAHs, is
described as ubiquitous genotoxic and carcinogenic compound, acting in particular by
the occurrence of reactive diol metabolite that forms DNA adducts. The causal
relationship between exposure to PAHs and occurrence of neoplasia in organisms
involves to explore the biological plausibility of the association. Biomarkers of
genotoxicity/mutagenicity are a central part of tools that measure the biological
plausibility. DNA adducts and DNA strand breaks are lesions that can be
advantageously used in sentinel organisms.
Keywords: DNA, DNA adducts, Genotoxicity, Neoplasia, Polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs).
