High-Performance Liquid Chromatography - Assignment Example

From the day of the accident to the 5th-day sampling, it can be seen that the presence of 4,5-dihydrodiol is evident in all days in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 nmol/ml. the second metabolite 7,8-dihydrodiol has the most presence immediately after the accident but slowly diminish through the days. The metabolite 7,8-diol-9,10 epoxide, on the other hand, has the least presence on the samples. It is even undetected during the first two days of the accident.Epoxide Hydrolase contribute to the biodegradation of many organic compounds such as benzo[a]pyrene.

(Loo, et al. 2006). This enzyme has the ability to detoxify a wide range of organic potential genotoxic epoxides with diverse structures (ARand, et al. 2003). It can modulate the effects on the binding of benzo[a]pyrene to the DNA structures (Carcinogenesis, 1983). It plays important roles in the metabolic activation of benzo[a]pyrene to carcinogens and mutagens (Thakker, et al. 1977).Metabolism of Benzo [a) Pyrene leads to the formation of various compounds such as benzo[a] pyrene 4,5-dihydrodiol, ortho quinone and benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (Wood, et al., 1976). The first product is less or considered as non-mutagenic as compared to the other product which is the epoxide diol metabolites.

The role of epoxide hydrolase is important such that it makes the benzo [a] pyrene derivatives to result in the non-mutagenic products. With this, there is less threat to genetic mutation and other health risks (Wood, 1981).Mr X is may have the possibility to develop cancer. There are three products for the metabolic pathway for benzo[a]pyrene where the product 7,8-doil-9,10-epoxide provides the biggest threat to human health due to its carcinogenic and mutagenic effect (Ruan, 2006). However, with the sampling and retention times considered, there are more products for 4,5-dihydrodiol produced based on the UV absorbance wavelength in detecting their presence.